Life has been so crazy lately, yet I couldn’t be happier. I’m working two jobs, saving money, house hunting with my partner, and working out again. Having a fuller calendar has really challenged me to be selective with how I spend my time. I’ve always liked being busy, so it’s been nice to be able to get back in the swing of that lifestyle.
It’s not a bad thing to be selective. You may be thinking, “you haven’t made mention of a social life.” That’s totally still included, but it’s less frivolous. Those closest to me understand that there are certain things that I’m going to decline these days to get closer to my goals. On top of that, they’re willing to lend a hand to keep me on track. My hangouts have been more high quality lately, and involved a lot of deeper conversations in the comfort of our homes or a local coffee shop.
I’m most excited about bringing regular exercise back into my routine. Sure, I walk a lot on a daily basis, but it’s not the same as having a good sweat session. I used to work out religiously when I was in Undergrad, and have played sports my whole life. As soon as entered my Master’s though, I found it a lot harder to balance my time and I let that fall by the wayside. I feel like I’ve been tired ever since. In my head, it’s still important to me, and I was only becoming more frustrated as time went on. So, I decided to do make a change.
I’m working out at home, and taking classes here and there to push myself out of my comfort zone. I took my first barre class this week, and I’m going to my first spin class tomorrow. I used to box and take Muy Thai classes when I was in school, and I look forward to getting back into that, as well.
Now, back to the title of this article. In life, there are always changes to your plans, and in some respects, you have to be willing to accept that. I always leave a couple of hours in the day open to allow for flexibility. As much as I am a planner, this helps to reduce my stress when things don’t go according to plan. Last week, LinkedIn CMO Shannon Brayton came by our office to talk to us about a great number of things, including work/life balance. She said that no matter what stage you are at in your life or career, you must have one or two non-negotiables that you make known to everyone in your life, including your leadership at work (if that applies). This resonated with me because there has been so much change, and it can be hard when you’re the type of person who likes to do it all.
As of right now, these are my two non-negiotables:
- Sunday is our family day. That means hanging out with my partner (since it is the only day he is also off from work) and our dog. It will also come to mean no cell phone time. We’re trying to be more mindful of the time we spend glued to a screen, especially since we both work desk jobs. I may have to work some Sundays, but my boss is aware of my needs and I know he will do his best to accommodate.
- Working out three times a week (minimum). No matter how busy I am, I need to work out three times a week at home or in a class. I’m already feeling much more energetic, lively, and have a larger appetite. It’s a great thing to put into a routine.
Moral of the story here is, don’t bail on yourself. In doing so, you’re telling yourself that in the grand scheme of things, you don’t matter. Make time for yourself.
Khadijah Plummer Consulting 