When I worked on the national staff of Teach For America, I learned about a helpful exercise for cultivating work/life balance (although we didn't call it that; the exact name is escaping me). And it's very simple.
It goes something like this:
You make a list of what you need in your life on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.
I'm feeling the need to sit down and think through my list again (I've done this exercise a lot!). I want to make sure I find that delicate balance between my own needs and my growing baby's needs.
So here it goes:
Daily
Every time I engage in this activity, I'm struck by how little I actually need to feel fulfilled! My next step is to print these out and tape them to the back of the collage I made to represent my intentions for 2010 (see image above).
It goes something like this:
You make a list of what you need in your life on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.
I'm feeling the need to sit down and think through my list again (I've done this exercise a lot!). I want to make sure I find that delicate balance between my own needs and my growing baby's needs.
So here it goes:
Daily
- Engaging and meaningful work
- Approximately eight hours of sleep
- An hour-long walk
- Healthy meals and snacks
- Time to talk and cuddle with Matt
- Time on my computer
- A nap (since I've been pregnant)
- Time to decompress before bed (for reading, etc.)
- Introspection through journaling
- Phone conversations with friends and family
- Extended time to do something interesting (attend a quirky event, craft, etc.)
- Time to do chores and go grocery shopping
- Yoga
- Social time with friends
- A date night with Matt
- Travel (preferably international)
- Time to reflect on the previous year and establish intentions for the upcoming year
Every time I engage in this activity, I'm struck by how little I actually need to feel fulfilled! My next step is to print these out and tape them to the back of the collage I made to represent my intentions for 2010 (see image above).
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I promise I am open to feedback and truly appreciate hearing others' insights into my choices (it's like free therapy!), but please say it in the same way you would say it if we were sitting across from each other at brunch or next to each other on a park bench while our children play.