Balancing Work & Life

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For me, I have always done my homework first then all my computer work (business, blog, novel, freelance writing) after. However, lately that's not the case. More and more I feel that in order to be as productive as possible I must save my homework for last and do that at 2 AM rather than my other work. Why? Because I am a blogger and then a writer which is why, why is not the question, but why not? Yes, that's the question! Why not?

Turns out neither one of those daily routines balance me as an average or productive person. If I wind up doing my homework at 2 AM, I feel upset about having to go back to school four hours later to well, come home with more homework, but if I don't do my computer work before I do my homework, I am not motivated to do any of my homework at all. See my problem yet?

There is no balance. All I do is work, homework, work, and then more homework. Where in this sequence do I just live a normal life?

Balancing your work life and your actual life is hard. Sometimes (or perhaps just in my case) you feel the need to say "Well...all this work is my life." Here's the truth. It's not. Work is part of your life, but if you aren't a healthy well-being living a life you are comfortable and content with then your work means nothing.

So how do keep work and life balanced...
ONE...Take a BREAK! Take an hour off, a day off, a week off, or even a month. Life is too short to pile up your your schedules with lots of work and no fun. I am very guilty of trying to convince myself working is fun, but we all have an adventurous side that just wants to be worry and work free.

TWO...Take another BREAK! One is probably not enough!

THREE...Make a work schedule that allows you enough room to make plans with your friends and family. This is essential to balance your work and life because you'll feel more motivated to work when you know you'll also be able to have a dinner, watch a movie, or go shopping with your loved ones.

FOUR...Get some rest. Can't balance work and life without rest!

FIVE...Start eating healthier! If you're going to survive days where you work and have a wonderful life, you need to make sure that you're eating a well-balanced diet.

Speaking of health, that Special K Challenge has been working pretty well for me. I lost four pounds in a week! Plus, I feel so much less of a slug. Bonus points for that!

Letting Things Go...

Recently, while speaking to a few people that I confined in, I realized a lot of what I do (owning a business, writing a novel, and blogging) has several aspects that I have no control over. Of course, I run my business my way, write what I want to write, and make my blog as personal possible. But, I have no control over how long it will take until my business becomes successful, how many people would actually read my novel, and how long it will take for my blog to become known.

One of the hardest things to do in life is accept that not everything is in your control. As the insanely insane borderline workaholic I am, accepting this is like paying $100 for a new pair of shoes and having no idea what they look like or what size they are. What kind of madness would that be?!

That madness is the real deal when it comes owning a business, writing a blog, writing a book, and any project that requires numerous amounts of effort from you, but also a really long unnecessary period of waiting for what you don't have control over.

It isn't easy having big dreams and goals and working your hardest to achieve them only to have to wait for the next step, but everything takes time.

One quote that really stood out to me about this topic is the following "I will hold myself to a standard of GRACE, not perfection." -Emily Ley

Last words: "Perfection is patience combined with tolerance." -Wise words from yours truly.

Finding You...

We're all trying to find a place in the world. It is hard trying to find a place where you belong and it's even harder to try to belong where you already are.

Your place in this world is the position or contribution to the world. Basically it is your purpose. Everyone has something to offer...the questions are where will you make your contribution? how will you impact others? and when will it happen?

The simple answer to all these questions is this: One day you'll be someone great and impact the world in a beautiful way.

The long and complicated answer everyone is looking for really doesn't exist. We are all trying to find a place in this world and well, if you haven't found it yet...you'll find it soon.

I just entered the world of adulthood and yet, it all seems familiar to me and I seem to welcome it more so than my peers and even my best friend. However, I haven't found that place of mine yet, I don't know what my contribution is, and I do not know even what I am capable of.

Granted, I have chosen a career path (becoming an entrepreneur of my own tech/software company), but as for my place in the world...I am looking too.

On a completely unrelated note, I am undergoing day four of the Special K Challenge I decided to do. Let's see if this challenge teaches me to monitor my eating habits and drop a few pounds before prom and graduation. As Barney from How I Met Your Mother would say..."Challenge Accepted."

Introducing the Eternity Awards

For the past few months, I have been working on a brand new project I call "The Eternity Awards". This is a blogger event for those who would like to receive recognition for all their hard work on their blogs! I have seen a trend of little awards going around such as the Liebster Award and Best Blogger Award. I love the concept of these awards, however, I never thought it gave bloggers enough recognition for what they do. Granted, I have had my fair share of earning these rewards from other bloggers, I feel that it is time for something new!

Introducing The Eternity Awards! A completely virtual online awards event for bloggers with real prizes!

To kick off the awards, I am starting the first part of the awards: the nomination period. This period lasts for one week and will end on February 23, 2014. You can nominate as many blogs as you would like in whichever category you see fit. You can even nominate your own blog!

Plus, I am also looking for four (4) judges to help out with the first ever Eternity Awards! Judges will help make decisions as to which contestants will move forward in this competition, contribute to and decide the prize, receive tons of publicity throughout the event with tweets, Facebook likes, and a spot in the judges panel page with a short description and unlimited links!

Nominate your favorite blogs and bloggers here. All the other details about the award event can be found on The Eternity Awards site. 

A Valentine's Day Post

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays next to New Year's. Every year I aim to make both of these holidays special for my loved ones. However, in a way I always sort of expect something alike from those who love me...especially on Valentine's Day. I hope that doesn't sound like I am complaining because I am not. I am just a tad bit disheartened on the subject knowing that nothing even a tad bit special ever happens on these specific holidays.

This year, was a bit different. Valentine's Day fell in the middle of a five day weekend off from school (plus, work for me) and everyone was recovering from the snow storm that happened the day before. My family decided to spend the day buying furniture for my bed room and then grocery shopping which was perfectly fine. All we saw were couples and people buying flowers, chocolates, and giant teddy bears-it was enough to fill my heart with a little glee.

As far as Valentine's Day gifts go, my best friend bought me a little Valentine Wiener Dog and I named him Wendell. It was a really sweet gesture!

Hope your Valentine's Day was great! I'd love to hear how your day went! 

Eighteen

This weekend, I celebrated my eighteenth birthday! I have been waiting to turn eighteen since, I realized that so many of the projects I want to start require me to be this age. I wanted to publish my book without the help of my parents, be a member of the business I co-started with my father, manage financial accounts, monetize my work, and attend blogging/business conferences I could not before! I have a lot I want to do, and well now nothing can stop me!

The small birthday gathering I had was oodles (yes, oodles) of fun and I was glad to have my friends and my sisters all the in the same room talking, laughing, and taking pictures. It was great!

From Left to Right: Melissa, Jennifer, Tabeer, Me, Joselyn

From Left to Right: Jennifer, Joselyn, Me, Abeer, Tabeer, and Melissa

From Left to Right: Jennifer, Joselyn, Abeer, Me, Melissa, and Joanne

  
Of course, this blog post would not be complete without a photo of my Dad and sisters alone. They managed to put this get together for me and deal with me without getting too frustrated and I appreciate it so much! I love them all very much!

How awesome are my friends?!

Beyond that, on a personal note...somehow I feel that I have been eighteen for quite a while now. Just now I have an official ID to match. Is it just me or did age really become just a number?