Feel The Wave

Where you begin your personal growth journey.

Tag: Work-life balance

  • Creating Balance: Navigating Work and Life in a Changed World

    The pandemic has redefined the boundaries between work and home for many of us, making the quest for work-life balance more urgent than ever. As our work and personal lives have become increasingly intertwined, the challenge of maintaining a healthy balance has taken on new dimensions. Work-life balance is different for everyone; it depends on our lives outside of work and the type of work we do. Regardless of the situation, finding some sort of balance is essential.

    Finding Your Balance: Practical Steps

    If you don’t know what balance looks like for you, experiment. Start by assessing your work life. Note how many hours you work each week. Can you shift some of those hours to your personal life, or vice versa? Do you want to? Observe others in your life—what works for them? Can you adopt some of their strategies? Determine what works for you at this stage of your life and adjust as needed. Over time, your work-life balance model will change, as it depends on your current life circumstances. A person with a family and a recent single graduate will have different work-life balances.

    Benefits of Maintaining Work-Life Balance

    1. Enhanced Productivity: Taking time for your mind to disconnect from work allows you to learn and focus on other things. When you return to work after a break, you are more focused, energized, and productive. Disconnecting from work and recharging your mental batteries can also boost your creativity.

    2. Improved Health and Well-being: Spending most of your time at work, especially in a stressful environment, can be detrimental to your health. The mind and body need breaks from stress, as they are not built to endure prolonged stress. If you experience constant headaches and frustration at work, it might be time to consider taking some time off. Recognize the signs when you’ve had too much and pull back to recover.

    3. Improved relationships: Your personal relationship improve significantly if you have a work-life balance. You get more time with your family and friends to foster those relationships. When work-life balance is applied you are present with everyone you meet, increasing connection because you cherish the time you have with them. 

    4. Increased Job Satisfaction: Find what works for you. Some days, the scale might tip more toward work or personal life, but ensure it doesn’t stay tipped one way for too long. It’s about overall balance.

    Final Thoughts

    Remember, achieving balance is a journey. Be kind to yourself and adjust as needed. Ultimately, the goal is to create a life where you can thrive both personally and professionally. Take small steps, be patient, and prioritize your well-being.

    Take care.

  • Stop Juggling Everything: Focus on What Truly Matters

    We have things to do and places to go, but never enough time to do everything we want. Go, go, go. We have too many things on the go. We push ourselves to do as much as possible, even when we feel overwhelmed and as if we’ve lost control of our lives. We let ourselves be dragged around like dolls, placed into situations and commitments we don’t want. We do things we don’t want to.

    It’s difficult to say no because we don’t want to disappoint people. We tend to believe that others are helpless, that they can’t manage or enjoy themselves without us. We feel guilty for not helping our family and friends, but that’s a lie we tell ourselves. Deep down, we want to be needed, and that’s why we keep helping—even when we don’t have the time or energy.

    While it’s important to help others because life is hard, we also need to take care of ourselves. If we reach a point of exhaustion and break down, the people we’ve been helping will have to manage without us. And you know what? They will. We often overestimate our importance in other people’s lives. They need us, but not for everything.

    When we have too many things on our to-do list, we’re not just overwhelmed—we’re stuck. Nothing moves forward. We juggle too many tasks, our attention is split in countless directions, and our progress is minimal. We spend more time thinking about what to do than actually doing it.

    As Ryan Holiday wisely points out:

    “The one thing all fools have in common […] is that they are always getting ready to start. It’s not that fools aren’t busy—they are. They’re running around like crazy, they’ve got a million ideas, a million things they’re doing. The problem is that none of them concretely move the ball forward in any way.”

    Take time to reflect and prioritize what truly matters in your life. Focus on one thing at a time and watch it flourish. You’ll feel a sense of relief when you see real progress. You’ll also realize that other people are doing just fine without you.

    Stop waiting for the perfect time—it doesn’t exist. Take action now. Break free from the endless to-do list!

    Take care.

  • Why Mental Breaks Matter: Recharging in a Busy Life

    Why Mental Breaks Matter: Recharging in a Busy Life

    Wake up. Workout. Wake up the kids. Get them ready for school. Go to work. Leave work. Pick up the kids. Prepare dinner. Help with homework. Bath time. Prep for the next day. Put the kids to bed. Grab an hour with my wife or by myself before starting my night routine and going to bed.

    Repeat the next day—until the weekend.

    When it’s written out, it looks mundane, busy, and rushed. It feels like there’s no time for anything else during the week. My time bucket is filled right to the edge. Not another minute can be spared. Honestly, some days are exhausting with so many chores and responsibilities. But those days are few and far between.

    As human beings, we are creatures of habit. In some ways, this repeating day is comforting. There’s peace in knowing what to expect.

    What I described above is a high-level overview—the major activities of my day-to-day. Hidden between those tasks are my breaks. More specifically, my mental breaks. That’s where my day shifts, because no two breaks are the same.

    When I’m working, I’m present and give it my all. But I also know my body well enough to recognize when I need to step back and avoid burnout. I know when to say, “It’s time for a break—let’s take five and resume after.”

    Depending on the day, my breaks range from five minutes to a few hours. They include short meditation sessions—lying down or sitting upright, doing simple breathing exercises like box breathing. Longer breaks might be spent reading, writing, working out, going for a run, or tackling a personal or house project.

    These things work for me. It took a lot of trial and error to figure out what helps recharge my mind and body throughout the day. And even now, there are still challenges. What worked yesterday might need to be adjusted tomorrow. Each day, I’m a slightly different version of myself—and that requires a flexible approach to mental breaks.

    These breaks are “me time”—and they are crucial. They bring balance to my life.

    I’ve also learned to recognize the signs when it’s time to step back. A lack of focus, losing interest in tasks I usually enjoy, poor eating habits, or growing irritability. These are the red flags. Breaks reset my mind. They offer space for reflection and give me perspective. They also slow down my thoughts just enough to untangle and organize them.

    I wouldn’t change my daily routines—they’re part of my current life. And like everything in life, they’re temporary. I enjoy them for what they are, knowing one day they’ll be gone.

    Still, the days can feel tedious. That’s why my mental breaks are so important—they boost my energy and my mindset.

    Make time to break the cycle. Add small moments of “you time” throughout the day. It’ll help clear your mind.

    Take care.

  • How a Simple Daily Routine Keeps Me Grounded

    How a Simple Daily Routine Keeps Me Grounded

    There is a lot of information out there about routines—morning routines, afternoon routines, night routines, and everything in between. I’ve had a daily routine for quite some time now. It keeps me grounded and allows me to move through my mornings and evenings without overthinking. I don’t do anything exceptional or revolutionary—at least, I don’t think I do. But I wanted to share my daily routine in case it sparks a positive change in someone else’s life.

    Morning Routine

    Like most people, I need an alarm to wake up in the morning. Mine is set to soft music so I’m not jolted awake in a panic by a traditional alarm buzz. Once I’m awake—but before getting out of bed—I say something positive to myself. It’s usually something like, “This will be a great day,” or “I’m feeling good and rested. Let’s go!”

    After that, I get ready for the day by brushing my teeth and showering. Not too long ago, I came across the line, “You’ve never really had a shower.” Most of us are physically in the shower but mentally elsewhere—thinking about the day ahead or reviewing what happened last week. After reading this, I started incorporating mindfulness into my showers: noticing the feeling of the water on my body, the scent of the soap, and the motion of washing my hair. It helps me practice the art of being focused on the present moment, something I explore more deeply in There is no better time than now.

    Once I’m out of my birthday suit and ready for the day—which is already planned from the previous day—I start with a workout. My workouts are planned in four-week blocks, with weightlifting three times a week and yoga for 20–30 minutes two times a week. After finishing my workout, I review one or two major tasks for the day—work priorities during weekdays or personal goals on weekends. While reviewing, I also add smaller tasks or next steps in case I have extra time. This prevents me from wasting time deciding what to do next and ensures I know exactly where to start.

    You might be wondering why I haven’t mentioned making the bed yet. I usually make it later in the morning—if my wife hasn’t already done so.

    Workday Structure

    Each workday morning, I set aside a 30-minute block to organize my notes. This is particular to me since my job requires taking a lot of notes during meetings. I struggled for quite some time to find the best method. Recently, I started using a three-column table: the first column for the date and title, the second for notes, and the third showing how my team or I can use the information. I heard about this method on a podcast some time ago, and it has worked well for me.

    Fifteen minutes before the workday ends, I clean up my desktop by saving files and closing windows so that the next morning I have a clean workspace. I then write down one or two major tasks I need to accomplish the next day. Limiting myself to one or two priorities helps me avoid information overload and stay focused on what truly matters.

    Evening & Night Routine

    After work, I spend time with my family. Once the kids are in bed, I schedule an hour for myself, usually reading or learning a new skill like coding or programming an app, which I’m really into right now. Taking time to reflect and organize my thoughts has helped me become more aware of how I learn and grow, something I discuss in Why Being Teachable is the Key to Success.

    About half an hour before bed, I start winding down. I prepare my clothes for the next day, brush my teeth, and listen to a guided meditation for 15–20 minutes. For me, a daily routine is one of the simplest ways to take back control and move closer to becoming the best version of myself.

    Summary of My Daily Routine

    • Plan the next day the night before
    • Start the morning with a positive thought
    • Exercise first thing
    • Identify one or two key priorities
    • Organize notes daily
    • Reset the workspace before ending the workday
    • Disconnect and spend time with family
    • Wind down intentionally before bed