There is a balance between work and play. I can’t tell you how many times people have told me since I went into my business that time will never be my own. While there are elements of truth to that, my business does not run my life. While I certainly cannot just work only two hours Monday through Friday for the rest of my life, I can set boundaries.
My work starts unless I have an actual photo shoot or hair styling session at 9 on occasions 10. Time has quickly taught me to be diligent to work hard and when I am off work to play hard. I don’t mean when I’m off the job of working on the house. I mean actually finding friends to hang out with, do a fun project, get a massage…ect. To remember to breath and take in beauty. This is harder done, then said I must say. I wish I could say that I work from 9-5 or even 9-4. But reality is…there are days and they are many that I pull 12-14 hours. The balance between work and play will always be one of fine tuning I think and sometimes for a season there may not be a balance.
There are two things that I stand firm on within reason, I answer to any social media, calls, texts, and email from 9:00 to 9:00 only. Before or after it can wait unless it’s an emergency. In the future I hope time being shorter, but for time being this is very reasonable. And the second on Sundays, I set aside to rest.
If I did not set boundaries than I have overturned reasons that I build Reflections By Christina in the first place. Relationships are very important to me. My family, my friends, and to my clients, spending time matters and knowing where boundaries lies is important. If I did not take time to enjoy life, to rest, to continue building relationships then I am NOT the only one who suffers, everyone else does as well.
The time blocks that I have set for whatever it may be, I want to be all in not distracted. It’s harder than you think not thinking about work when you are outside the office and hours, putting away the phone and actually having a meal without media, sticking to your yes “let’s go hiking” when you’ve had it on your calendar for weeks. Difficult as it is, unless there is something that is ultra important (define that early), stick to the boundaries of what is good for you and your life.
There is NO such thing as a perfect life. Life is a beautiful mess, but if diligent of the simplest things can make life happier, more constructive for good relationships, and doing what actually matters versus just filling it with stuff then it’s good.