Work/Life Priorities
Let’s talk about work and life. I think it’s safe to say that most of us are trying to figure out how to balance the two. Or is the goal to fully integrate them? Whatever it is, it often feels impossible to get it quite right. And the pursuit of balance can lead to a ton of stress and feelings of inadequacy. I have written and spoken a lot about both concepts - balance and integration - and I believe there is still something missing. So lately, I have been thinking about prioritization. What would it look like if we intentionally prioritized every day - down to the hour or minute - and focused on what is directly in front of us, whether we are at home or at the office? This requires immense presence, mindfulness, planning, and discipline. Yet it has the power to transform the way we look at our whole lives, enabling us to show up better for ourselves and those around us.
First things first. The notion that work and life are separate is untrue. Yes, we can (and should try to) leave work at work, and focus on family, friends, and pursuing our hobbies while we are at home. But when we go to work, we don’t magically stop thinking about our kids, or our friend going through a breakup, or our weekend plans. And when we’re at home, it can be really tough to leave work behind - especially if you’re constantly connected through your phone. Let’s take the pressure off and remember this - our lives are fuller when we are intentional about the work we do, the people we surround ourselves with, the impact we seek to make, the gratitude we practice, and the passions we pursue. Whether your work is your absolute passion, a requirement to pay the bills, or a source of struggle and feelings of inadequacy - it is inextricably linked with our lives, not something we can truly separate from everything else.
With that foundation, we can begin to look at priorities. I do believe that there are seasons of our lives, during which we prioritize different things. For instance, I am writing this from maternity leave, so my baby is my ultimate - and nearly only - priority at the moment. Going beyond seasons, we can drill down to the months, the weeks, the days, and the minutes, and begin to prioritize how we spend our time.
Let’s get specific. If you are a full-time working, commuting, mother with a side hustle (like me!), prioritization becomes incredibly important. Different times of the day will beg for different priorities. When the baby is awake, they tend to take every ounce of energy. But for naptimes? I pick a different priority for each nap, and it is incredible how much I can get done when I put all my focus on one thing. Sometimes it is cleaning the house, sometimes it is a workout, and sometimes (like now!) it is writing a blog post. Once in a while it is to simply rest.. The key is to plan ahead - each morning I decide what I need to get done, and when I’ll (at least attempt!) to prioritize it - for instance, during nap #1 I eat, clean, and organize. During nap #2 I do a workout.
Here are a few key ideas to help you prioritize your life - work and all. As with everything you read about - take what works for you and leave the rest.
Daily Prioritization: Each morning or evening, take stock of what you need to accomplish that day. Write out (on a paper or virtual calendar) what your day needs to look like in increments - as short as 10 minutes and as long as an hour or two. When you’re in a given time block: put all of your energy there, knowing you’ll get to everything else at the appropriate time.
Be Present: Focus on being totally where you are in each moment. If you’re working on a deadline, spend that 45 minutes totally focused on your deliverable. If you’re with your baby or best friend, put all of your energy towards them, knowing you’ll get to work later.
Stay Flexibile: Our lives are changing constantly and daily - if you don’t get to all of your priorities in a given day, don’t stress. Try to spend a few minutes that evening planning for the next day, so you can get in what is most important to you.
Take a few minutes to think about what prioritizing your life could look like. Then, one step at a time, begin to see the magic of a well prioritized life, which allows you to fully be wherever you are.
