Achieving a healthy work-life balance is a challenge, often described as impossible or unattainable, for most Americans.  One study found that 7 out of 10 Americans describe their work-life balance as unhealthy. I have had a handful of jobs in my adult life, and I would agree. It’s HARD to feel as if you’re giving your personal life the attention it needs in this fast-paced world. Employers are demanding, and to stay ahead, you must meet their expectations. Usually at the cost of your time, sacrificing your mental and often your physical health. I think that’s why we see so many people turning to homesteading, the traditional lifestyle, and striving for work-from-home jobs. People are craving a slower lifestyle.

Once you become a parent, you are even more deeply affected by this. In America, our living wage is so low compared to the cost of living that it’s practically impossible to maintain a one-income household. If possible, it’s achieved through a lifestyle change. Usually, sacrificing that year’s vacation, or maybe you stop splurging on fast food, no more Starbucks runs. Maybe you even become a one-car household. These types of trade-offs are what you must consider when deciding how to run your family and household. There is no one way to do it. What works for your family probably won’t work for your neighbors.

When my husband and I discovered we were going to have a baby, I thought I would return to work after sixteen weeks of maternity leave. Two weeks after giving birth to our first, the whole world shut down. The scariest portion of my life began. Propaganda was flooding my postpartum brain—loss of friends and their loved ones. So much fear was instilled in me through every screen, radio, and doctor around. The fear I harbored in the simple trip my husband would take to the local dollar store for necessities, was outrageous! I shake my head now when I think back. I am sure the worry took years off of my life. I knew I would no longer be returning to me job in the operating room, as we had previously planned on. Between the Covid scare, the twelve-hour shifts, working holidays, and call hours, there was no balance. Fear of what i might subject my family too, but also fear of missing out. I didn’t want to chance missing anything in my child’s life. Thus, the birth of my in-home daycare.

I knew I wanted a SAHM lifestyle without sacrificing the vacays or occasional splurges. I brainstormed what I could do from home. There weren’t many options at that time. When we were starting to feel desperate, a family friend reached out to see if I was available to watch his daughter, who was the same age as our baby at the time. Then the rest is history! This job isn’t my dream job by any means, but it has been sufficient and a blessing for what my husband and I are trying to accomplish as parents. All the additional baby love is an added bonus! However, anyone who runs their own business knows that achieving a work-life balance isn’t always easy.

Running your own business is a wonderful burden. It is 24/7, but being your boss is almost addictive. There are certainly pros and cons to it. Once you’ve worked for yourself, it’s hard to imagine ever working for someone again, even with the larger workload.

All of this reasoning makes pursuing writing even more appealing to me. I have always had a passion for writing, even as a young girl. I loved making up stories, poems, and even songs. So, the idea of doing what I love, on my schedule, as my own boss, makes it all a dream. Now, being an indie author is more than just writing. It’s also editing, formatting, marketing, social media management, and sales. As you can imagine, my work-life balance isn’t as balanced as I would like. Another reason to pursue traditional publishing.

I guess all of this is to say, I think as Americans we need to enjoy ourselves and our lives more. Embrace taking life slowly. Stop taking life so seriously, all of the time. Remember what is most important to you. Celebrate and honor what make your soul sing. We need to take those scary steps that land us closer to our dreams, but not allow ourselves to get lost in the mist. Take time to strive forward but also recognize when our body and mind is asking for rest. Find enjoyment in the smallest of things. Overall, just find light in this sometimes scary and crazy race they try to sell us as life.

Until next time, ladies & gents~