“How do you balance it all?” Seems to be a question we hear all the time.
And honestly, we don’t.
We swing and miss all the time.
Balance is this elusive unicorn we sometimes catch a glimpse of and the rest of the time are searching for. But, there are ways to make that balancing act a little easier.
Today on the blog we are thrilled to introduce you to Christine. (If anyone should know about balancing it all, it’s her) She’s a young, ambitious entrepreneur who definitely knows the balancing act well. She’s here today to share a bit about her story and some tips to get closer to that unicorn of balance. (And man, they’re good ones!)
So, without further ado, let’s jump on in! (Make sure to take a peek at her links below, she’s up to amazing things!)
It was three o’clock in the morning and I was standing at the end of my boyfriend’s bed bawling about how I wanted to go to bed but had another two hours of work to do. He sat up, looked at me, and sighed, ‘babe, you can always do it tomorrow’. At the time I went back to work to finish the extra two hours, but looking back, he was right.
I currently work as a Marketing Manager from 8-5 Monday to Friday then come home and work as an Entrepreneur running PUSH 25. My life largely revolves around my work. But looking at my future- I know it’s important to find the balance between work, life, and love.
Is it really even possible to balance business and love?
In a world that wants us to think we can’t have it all, I refuse to believe we have to choose between having money and having a honey. Judging from social media and reality TV, you wouldn’t believe it was possible to be happily together at all. Add running a business to the mix and it sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Balance, to me, is simply being aware of what’s important and being intentional about giving your time and energy to the key people in your life (including yourself) as well as to the tasks that need to be completed.
I really believe that you can have it all, just not all at once.
In my experience, the balance will change day-by-day or week-by-week. Some weeks, I have more time to devote to my role as a girlfriend and other weeks my businesses take priority. But I have to be aware of this and make adjustments as needed.
My boyfriend didn’t start dating an entrepreneur, I became one. To be honest, I don’t think I would be able to be one if I didn’t have my boyfriend holding my hand telling me I could do it.
Here’s my tips:
1. Take date nights
I can’t emphasize how important date nights are. This doesn’t have to be doing anything expensive or over the top. But making sure you schedule at least one night together a week will keep your relationship strong. Sometimes it may be hard to get away from work, but trust me, those emails can wait till the morning.
2. Make your bedroom a ‘work free zone’
This is a hard one for me, because I love working in my bed. However, your bed is a place for relaxation and…. Fun time… with your significant other. Blurring these lines makes it harder to have the separation between work and love.
3. Join an activity together
Find something that you and your significant other like to do together. This will allow you to spend time doing your hobbies as well as enjoying each other’s company. For us, we’re learning to enjoy and participate in each other’s hobbies. I’ve even gotten my boyfriend to love coming out horseback riding with me.
4. Understand that sometimes work will come first
The balancing act of running a company and having a partner isn’t always easy. It’s important that your partner understands that sometimes your business will come first.
5. Be supportive of each other
No matter what you both decide to do with your work life, make sure you are supportive of your partner. Especially when your dating an entrepreneur- it’s important that they understand and know that you will have their back through the long work nights and stressful days.
While sometimes finding the illustrious ‘work- life balance’ may seem overwhelming, the important thing to remember is that you should never be too busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
There are some days that I turn to Derek and simply ask ‘why am I doing all of this?’ At some points life is overwhelming and frustrating. We often forget that without the lens of social media, no life (or relationship) is perfect.
Derek and myself are far from perfect, and our struggle with work/life balance is just one of many. However, we’ve learned that by embracing each other’s imperfections and being supportive of each other’s goals and dreams- we can achieve anything.
Christine Jamieson
Christine Jamieson is a Marketing Manager at Twin Maples as well as an Entrepreneur, running PUSH 25 Creative Solutions. She is an avid traveler, coffee and wine enthusiast, advocate for healthy living.
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