25 JANUARY 2019

I changed careers last year. From journalism —> Content strategy —> Public relations/Integrated Communications.

My job in public relations is a content strategy + marketing + event marketing + media relations. It has been an exciting but steep learning curve. Like Mount Everest steep.

But I’m amazed at the things I’m learning at such a short time. I count myself fortunate.

However, my biggest challenge is achieving some kind of work/life balance.

From 2012-2018, I worked in jobs where I could literally leave work at work. Subeditors may have incredibly intense days at work, but at the end of the day, when work ends, it ends. There’s no one bugging you for updates nor do you have to do any follow ups.

Therefore, my work/life balance skills are rather rusty as I was never forced to learn them – there was a clear delineation between work and life.

I find the current “always on” nature of my job a challenge, but I think of it as an opportunity to develop work-life balance skills. Yes, skills. Because it takes skill to balance both life and work.

I, unfortunately, tend to be an all or nothing person, so when I work, I work way too much and way too hard, resulting in sleepless nights, a far-too-tired body and a very grumpy soul. I think that if I can squeeze in as much work in a day I can get ahead. Unfortunately not so – because unlike nursing and subbing, work never has a proper end in this industry. Never.

Grab and go recharge

It’s in the book, Never Check E-Mail in the Morning that I discovered the concept of “grab and go” recharge. Meaning, I don’t need to do one massive relaxing thing to relax, but to do little things throughout the day.

Due to my all-or-nothing nature, I tend to think little pockets of relaxing moments are a waste of time. On the contrary, said Julie Morgenstern. These little grab and go moments are crucial for you to recharge and gain energy.

So the last few weeks has been an experiment in trying to regain back my energy and to break my hard-driving ways. Julie asked her readers to list down activities that they could do as micro relaxation moments. It was interestingly … difficult for me. Shows how little I do this on a regular basis!

For me:

• Journalling in a cafe with a nice cup of coffee
• Reading by the swimming pool
• 10 minutes of yoga at the end of the day
• Walking around a park
• Sitting by a pond and praying
• Watching fish in a pond
• Playing with cats or dogs
• Having coffee/lunch with friends
• Browsing for books in a bookstore
• A massage

How about you? What are your micro relaxation moments?