Thanks for writing, Erica! I enjoy reading about your journey to find "work-life balance". I too have weekends where free time is there, but it's been so long since I've had it that I don't know what to do with it. The planning out events is a good tactic that I employ as well (conveniently provides an "oh so sorry, I can't, I have XYZ at 8 o' clock").
Another tactic I've had success with is adding an activity directly after work each day. If it's at least 30 minutes, my mind usually resets and turns off "work mode". Good luck to you in your search!
I have attempted to hack my brain to accelerate this process without having to entirely heal my people pleasing first to transmute “I need to get this done for the good of my coworkers” to “I need to model good boundaries for the good of my coworkers”.
The “but I don’t have anything better to do” is so real, and for me personally, a clue that I’m in a depression. Because resting or going for a walk or staring at the sky or finally watching that movie ARE better things to do than work another two hours.
Great suggestions. I also find that practicing mindfulness i.e. ensuring you focus on one specific thing without distractions until you hit meaningful milestones can do wonders for your well-being as well as quality of output. Applicable to both work time as well as time for yourself.
Also, that guzheng rendition of Still DRE in the last footnote is one of the coolest things I've heard in awhile, so thanks for that.
Thanks for writing, Erica! I enjoy reading about your journey to find "work-life balance". I too have weekends where free time is there, but it's been so long since I've had it that I don't know what to do with it. The planning out events is a good tactic that I employ as well (conveniently provides an "oh so sorry, I can't, I have XYZ at 8 o' clock").
Another tactic I've had success with is adding an activity directly after work each day. If it's at least 30 minutes, my mind usually resets and turns off "work mode". Good luck to you in your search!
I have attempted to hack my brain to accelerate this process without having to entirely heal my people pleasing first to transmute “I need to get this done for the good of my coworkers” to “I need to model good boundaries for the good of my coworkers”.
The “but I don’t have anything better to do” is so real, and for me personally, a clue that I’m in a depression. Because resting or going for a walk or staring at the sky or finally watching that movie ARE better things to do than work another two hours.
Great suggestions. I also find that practicing mindfulness i.e. ensuring you focus on one specific thing without distractions until you hit meaningful milestones can do wonders for your well-being as well as quality of output. Applicable to both work time as well as time for yourself.
Also, that guzheng rendition of Still DRE in the last footnote is one of the coolest things I've heard in awhile, so thanks for that.