Re:Give yourself permission to have work-life balance
by Jtsummers on Thursday April 14, 2016 @05:08PM
(#11500364)
I responded to your first post, but I'll respond here as well since you've added some more.
1) The money situation is tough, but workable. Are you in a position to ask for a raise or are there things you can cut back on to save some money? If you don't want to change jobs yet, try those.
2) You don't want to disappoint anyone, I understand that completely. Was this something you were once passionate about but lost interest in? Your post sounds like you're experiencing burnout. Do you get paid vacation? If there's no formal leave agreement, maybe ask for 1-2 weeks of paid time off to just go get your head clear. Drive up to the mountains and hike or relax in a cabin with some books. Come back a bit refreshed.
3) What kind of hours do you work now? If your work is taking up your weekends, reclaim them. Take day trips somewhere, find a local rec sports league, or go to a park and find a pick up game of soccer or something. You may not enjoy these things, find something else. But try things. You won't know what you like until you do. I had no idea I'd like ballroom dancing until I took a date to a social dance one night (because I knew she liked dancing). It was the first time I'd danced in years, and it was a blast (for me, also terrifying because I felt like a klutz).
4) I get the bit about no serious romantic relationships. In all honesty, I had 2 in high school and college, nothing post college until that ex in the last paragraph. It's not easy, and it can be terrifying returning to it after a long hiatus. But it's one of those things that you have to try for if you want it, relationships (rarely) fall into your lap. In fact, the first time you have a partner and not just someone you go on a couple dates with may end in disaster. But I don't regret that one, parts of it, but not the relationship itself. I was trapped, inertia-wise, in singlehood and dating her got me past that hump.
1) The money situation is tough, but workable. Are you in a position to ask for a raise or are there things you can cut back on to save some money? If you don't want to change jobs yet, try those.
2) You don't want to disappoint anyone, I understand that completely. Was this something you were once passionate about but lost interest in? Your post sounds like you're experiencing burnout. Do you get paid vacation? If there's no formal leave agreement, maybe ask for 1-2 weeks of paid time off to just go get your head clear. Drive up to the mountains and hike or relax in a cabin with some books. Come back a bit refreshed.
3) What kind of hours do you work now? If your work is taking up your weekends, reclaim them. Take day trips somewhere, find a local rec sports league, or go to a park and find a pick up game of soccer or something. You may not enjoy these things, find something else. But try things. You won't know what you like until you do. I had no idea I'd like ballroom dancing until I took a date to a social dance one night (because I knew she liked dancing). It was the first time I'd danced in years, and it was a blast (for me, also terrifying because I felt like a klutz).
4) I get the bit about no serious romantic relationships. In all honesty, I had 2 in high school and college, nothing post college until that ex in the last paragraph. It's not easy, and it can be terrifying returning to it after a long hiatus. But it's one of those things that you have to try for if you want it, relationships (rarely) fall into your lap. In fact, the first time you have a partner and not just someone you go on a couple dates with may end in disaster. But I don't regret that one, parts of it, but not the relationship itself. I was trapped, inertia-wise, in singlehood and dating her got me past that hump.