The HARDEST & MOST REWARDING things about WORKING for YOURSELF
Hardest
Loneliness
FOMO
Imposter Syndrome
Rewarding
Seeing my progress
Funding my dreams
FREEDOM
Work-Life Balance is a Fallacy
Once upon a time, I assumed that if I got better at time management, then things would be easier and that I would be happier.
That I would finally be able to find the balance between my work life, my academic life, and my personal life.
And if I just searched hard enough for the right technique, the right mentor, or the right method, then I would finally be able to find balance in my life.
The reality is that things didn’t work out that way…
I am one holistic person who is made up of multiple “wants”
Wanting to be fitter
Wanting to have longer, healthier hair
Wanting to have better skin
Wanting to make more money
Wanting to make my clients happy
Wanting to be a great lawyer
Wanting to get multiple distinctions in school
Wanting to get head-hunted by Big Five firms
Wanting to become a ninja at Forensics, and
Etc.
With this in mind, I had to shift my focus and realise that everything in my life (including work) is interconnected.
Instead of trying to create a sliding scale of two things that I would balance, I would have to dedicate time to each and every one of my priorities in my day.
For example, if I wanted to make more money, I had to include at least ONE money-making practise into my day (whether it was mindset-related, or simply business development).
If I wanted to get fitter and wear more of my nice clothes, I’d have to include one fitness practice (whether it’s walking 5 kilometres, jogging, or Zumba — whatever) into my day, preferably early in the morning, although sometimes working out at the end of the day might suit my schedule.
It isn’t easy, but it is possible to find out what your definition of balance is and strive towards it…
Instead of trying to balance everything, I just had to schedule it in, set it, do it, and forget it.
Meaning, allows me to use the momentum from the previous “want” to lead me to attain the next “want” and the next “want” after that — and at the end of the day, when I do my spiritual practice of journaling, I get to see how doing ONE want after the other had allowed me to get even closer to living the life that I idealize. That ONE want has created “positive momentum” in my life.
I go from focusing on how to get it all done, and rather on how I have improved in at least one “want”.
That’s how I’ve managed to do what I can, to this very moment…
No, I don’t have it all — but it’s not necessary to have it all… not for me.
And while my spirituality, mental health, physical health, financial well-being, education, etc. are all better off for it, my family life is also much more improved — the people that I live with can say that I am a much nicer person to be around, and consistently work with clients that actually like me and want to continue working with me.
Yeah, I said it, “my clients actually like me!”
While it’s true that working on your own business is isolating, and it’s tough
...not for the faint-hearted,
...everything you’ve ever heard,
- it’s also incredibly rewarding.
In my business, I am happily trading FOMO for FREEDOM...
