work-life balance: 3 takeaways

I work from home, which I am insanely thankful for. Thankful x 10 million. No exaggeration. It allows our family to save money on daycare, and gives me more time with G. However, that also means that (on some days) I have to get my work done while chasing after an 18-month old, which is not easy. 

I find myself feeling compelled to work at every minute of the day--even if it's 12:07am and I'm dozing off in a small pool of drool on my laptop--because my workplace is my home. I don't go to an office everyday. I don't have that separation between work and home, therefore, my entire house has become "my work". This is where the work-life balance struggle comes into play. 

After recently listening to an episode of the financial podcast I subscribe to, I jotted down some notes as special guest Samantha Ettus discussed what she discovered about work-life balance, and it made everything click for me. 

Here were my 3 take aways...

1. Wherever you are, be present. I recently wrote about how one of my goals for 2017 is to be present when spending time with Graham. Samantha Ettus takes this one step further. She says wherever you are--whether work or home--be present. If you're at work, be totally focused on work, and when you get home to your family, be totally focused on your family. 

The reason this takeaway is so great is because it removes the guilt. If you're giving 100% to your work while you're at work, you'll have zero guilt shutting down your computer and email when you get home. In the same way, if you're giving your full attention to your spouse or kids when you're at home, you'll have zero guilt leaving them when it's time to jet off to work. 

One hour of focused time with your kiddo is better than a full day of distracted time with them. Stay focused and be present. 

2. Drop the quest for perfection. You know that woman you're comparing yourself to on Instagram who has the perfect abs, beautiful clothes, and exciting career? Well guess what. She doesn't exist. Hallelujah!! No ones life is as you think it is. Focus on your own life and the beauty that's within it. 

It is impossible to spend all your time in all the places, so stop the fight, and realize that you'll have days where your work gets a little more of your time, and other days where your children dominate your day. 

3. You can drop the ball and still be good. Samantha Ettus said something that stood out to me: You're going to miss things. You're going to forget about your kid's recital, or forget that today was "wear tie die to school" day. You're going to drop the ball. However, don't quit because you do.

Many women think that if they eliminate one of the "pieces of their pie", (like their job, for example), that then they'll have the time to be perfect in their mom role. It isn't true. You're still going to drop the ball at mommyhood from time to time, so don't sacrifice your career (and the fulfillment that your career gives you) because you mess up every once in a while. You're going to mess up either way, so embrace it and move on. 

Every day is going to have ups and downs. I'm going to have days where I've finally cleaned out my inbox and have nothing left on my work to-do list, and I'm going to have days where I can't remember if I showered and I'm eating goldfish crackers for lunch because that's all that's left in our pantry (sorry, Graham). 

As long as I'm present in the moment, steering clear of comparison, and granting myself a little grace when I mess up, then that's all I really need to feel balanced.