I was texting with my friend the other day about her online business and she was telling me how difficult it has been to complete tasks regarding her online business because her regular 9 to 5 has been taking up so much of her time. I told her that its all about balance and while she agreed with me, she wasn’t sure about how to go about finding it. After our text chat, I started thinking about how I have had difficulty finding balance in the past and what balance looks like for me and my lifestyle. 

As a Wire Deposit Specialist for a online cryptocurrency exchange at my full-time job as well as being a Freelance Content Writer/Copywriter with a steady contract gig from an online writing platform, I have to balance my time wisely especially when last minute tasks come up. As a result, scheduling can be difficult if I’m not given advanced notice and I may end up trying to complete multiple complex tasks in a day. This can be overwhelming and by the time I have completed everything I needed to do, I feel drained and depleted. My anxiety can also kick in because instead of taking the time out to breathe, I start thinking about all of the other things I need to accomplish the following day which usually leads to stress and worry. I wanted to work from home even prior to the pandemic because I wanted the freedom and flexibility that comes with having choices. What I didn’t realize is that there are more expectations and pressure not only from the people that I work for but from myself that can feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. It is in these moments that I have to figure out how to make this remote work life work for me and find a balance that allows me to grow and succeed while maintaining my sanity.

The first thing I did was create a weekly To Do List in the notes app on my phone. I typed out the tasks I knew that I needed to do for the week as it related to my main jobs and any freelance gigs that may arise. I also left time available to complete tasks around the house like cleaning and laundry (which is therapeutic in itself because I get to listen to music and zone out while doing these things). In order to have more time to relax and refresh, I did not schedule any tasks on my to do list after 7pm. I usually go to bed between 11pm-12am so I have at least 4-5 hours where I could eat, watch tv, hang with my boyfriend and just relax. On Fridays and Saturdays, I am off from my full-time gig and do not have any tasks from my contract gig so I make time to do all of the necessary errands and appointments on these days and relax a little as well. My to do list not only allows me to feel accomplished and motivated but it gives me the balance I need in order to be the best version of myself. Finding balance is different for everyone and may or may not require specificity using to do lists or reminders. The most important thing is to figure out what works for you and your lifestyle and incorporate activities that bring you peace and joy. Following my to do list isn’t always easy and sometimes I fall short but having one has created a solid foundation for my life where balance is not only attainable but absolutely necessary in order for everything else to fall into place.