How do you balance your responsibilities to your family, career, and yourself
Hello, gentlemen and #ladiesofhive, happy new week.
We talk about balance when things are in equal proportion or close to proportion.My case was something else. When I launched my career, I encountered some challenges because of missed priorities. I was unable to draw my boundaries between work, family and myself. I gave almost everything for my job and nearly crashed out. I was just loving my work beyond normal.
I would stay late at work, come back home with work, sleep late doing work and wake up very early for work. I was not only creating unhealthy situation but also denying myself and my family a healthy living and love.
However, things started happening fast, I started falling sick often, my family also were losing me. All our family values started fading away. No good conversation during meals, no family time out and dinner jabs. Gradually, I created a serious void and distance where it seems like everybody minded their business until I completely break down and could not go to work for two weeks.
One thing was clear, my family were running up and down taking care of me while work moved on, The company never stopped for a day though they reached out in the first couple of days and everything became normal. The world quietly moved on while I was on that sick bed. I learnt my lessons in that agony of pains and returned wiser than the serpent.
First, I understand that charity begins at home. I still need the support and love of my family to thrive and remain successful in my endeavours. It is vital I maintain good relationship and spend time with my family and loved ones in good and bad times.
Then again, I maintained decency and developed my career to remain relevant and earn resources which will assist me to support my family and see to their needs and wants. Then again, I have learnt to set boundaries.
Furthermore, taking care of myself is essential, as without me, there will be no job or family. Hence, health is wealth. I learnt to take care of myself, mentally, physically and nutrition wise. When I leave office, I leave work. I no longer take work home except on exceptional cases.
Additionally, I rest and bond well with my family. Cook healthy meal. Play, worship and go for family events and time outs together. Stay together, relaxing and refuelling on weekends and at any given opportunity.
Therefore, achieving balance for me means setting boundaries between work and family and maintaining a great healthy status. It might not be perfect either ways but practise they say makes perfect. I kept setting those boundaries and making mistakes until I achieved my set goals.
At the end, I found myself in a good place were self care, healthy relationship with my family and my career are not competing, rather they are at a striking balance given me peace that passes all understanding.
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