How do I maintain a good work/life balance? This is a question I struggle with every day. In truth, I think a good work-life balance hangs on prioritizing. On a daily basis, I’m trying to balance school, art, writing, relationships, other hobbies and interests, and daily tasks that simply must be done--you know, the little things, like showering or eating. We live in a culture where most of us are trying to balance lives that constantly pull us in a hundred different directions, and we must prioritize in order to get anything done. At this point in my life, school is the most important factor, followed closely by friends and family. There are times when I would love to spend all day painting in my studio, but I recognize that if I want to continue affording art supplies or staying healthy, there are things I must get done. I try to balance the things I must do with the things I like to do--sometimes that means I don’t get to do things I like to do, and sometimes they even overlap--but the important lesson here is that compromise is essential. If I don’t have time for a big painting, then I can still work art into my everyday life--through drawing as I’m waiting for class to start, or when I’m riding the bus. It's important to me that I work on my art every day, so I prioritize that over certain other things. Find what's important for you, and seek out ways to balance the things you have to do versus what you like to do. In my journey, I've found that certain responsibilities I once thought I absolutely had to do weren't actually essential, or could be shared with someone else to make the burden lighter. For example, my brother now helps with clean-up duty in the kitchen in exchange for my making dinner--making my life a lot easier and giving me a little extra time when I can work on the things I enjoy doing. When I’m not either at school or in my makeshift studio (aka my bedroom), I find plenty to keep me busy. I don’t think it’s healthy to have one thing (or person, for that matter) be your entire life, so I try to mix things up with various hobbies and interests. I love writing, and I’ve been working on a series for several years, now. I also spend a lot of time cooking and baking--I’m usually the one cooking dinner for my family, so I try to keep things interesting with at least one new recipe a week. I also really love spending time in nature, which is reflected in my art. I’ll go on walks around the neighborhood with my dog; spend time gardening, both indoors and out; and every once in a while, I’ll go on vacation with my family. We go camping once a year, which is one of my favorite ways to reconnect to the Earth and my roots. Being around plants and in nature grounds me, and truly helps get my creative energy flowing. By recognizing that you have to compromise every once in a while, reassessing what you really need to get done, and having a variety of hobbies, you can find balance in your life. This may look wildly different for different people, but I've managed to find a system that works for me. How about you? How do you find balance in your life? Background image courtesy of Canva.com. I'm not paid to use their product; I just really really like it!
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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