[part 2] I'm struggling with this

Published: Tue, 09/13/22

Note: This is the second email in a series I’m doing this week on finding balance at work and in life

One thing that’s on my mind is how to find the right daily balance.

Balance is a key part of why I quit my job.

I want to live a life that isn’t dominated by work and has space for everything else.

Like friends, family, my health and my hobbies…

As well as plenty of sleep. I love my sleep!

So how’s this going?

Well, I have more balance now.

I can choose when I work, where I work and on what I work.

And this is great.

I enjoy having more control over my schedule and more flexibility.

But I’ve found this has come with a downside too.

And the downside is this:

There’s a voice in my head which says I should be working more.

In other words…

I should forfeit some of the balance I’ve waited so long to have.

Interesting huh?

I quit my job to reduce the time I spend working…

But this voice is telling me to work more.

So why’s this happening?

I think I’ve figured it out.

I have a belief that the more I work, the more successful I’ll be…

And the more money I’ll make.

In other words…

If I work longer hours now, the quicker I’ll set up a business which allows me to enjoy a balanced life in the future.

Now, I’m not sure this belief is right.

I can see how it links back to my old job and my time at school.

Because when I worked hard…

And put in the hours…

I had “success” as a result.

Like getting good exam results, going to a good uni and rising through the ranks at work.

And the opposite is true too.

At university I worked less hard.

Instead of studying, I played a lot of poker…

And I ended up with a 2:2.

Not a disaster, but not what I was hoping for.

These experiences have re-enforced my belief that working harder means more “success”…

Which is why I think this voice in my head is saying what it is.

But I don’t think this is true.

It’s not the time spent working which is important.

It’s how the time spent working is used.

In other words…

Success can come from working smarter, not working harder.

I don’t mean taking shortcuts or trying to “hack the system”.

Instead I mean aligning work to when my energy levels are highest…

Or creating assets which give me leverage…

Or focussing on tasks which have the biggest potential to move the needle.

Sure, a successful business could allow me to have more balance in the future…

And if I worked 16 hours a day, I might get there quicker…

But I didn’t quit my job to work 16 hours a day.

I quit my job to get more balance today – in all parts of my life.

So I want to enjoy that balance now, rather than getting sucked back in to my old mindset.

The mindset which said “work hard today and enjoy the benefits in the future”.

I’ve being doing that most of my life…

(apart from at uni)

But I’ve realised I can’t keep saying “one day”. Because that day might never come.

So when I’m seeing a friend for lunch, or reading a book, or going for a run, or taking an afternoon off…

And get a pang of guilt...

I’m trying to remind myself to live in the moment and enjoy the benefits today.

It’s a tricky juggling act and a bit of a struggle...

…but maybe it’s not a bad problem to have.

Perhaps some of this resonates with you too.

With that being said…

It’s time to wrap this up.