How I Aim for Balance

Photo by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash

For most of my life, I have been a workaholic, and my health has suffered as a result. As I am writing this, I have rock-hard shoulders and a stiff neck, and I’m reminded that I need to take a step back and give myself a break.

The last time I suffered a major health issue was in 2017, when I ended up in the hospital, and even, then, it took me a while to recognize that I needed a new approach. I went from working up to sixteen hours a day to working no more than seven.

I have had to set the intention of working less, which is hard for me. In the last two years, I went from an aspiring author to a published author. I have three books of poetry through MMH Press and my first novel was published last year through Koehler Books.

I have gotten better at managing work/life balance in the last few years. I have learned, the hard way, that less is more. The more rested I feel, the more productive I am when I work. The more replenished I feel, the more inspired I am in my work. The more centered and calm I get, the more focused I am when I work. The more I spend time doing things for myself, the more energized I feel to work.

The journey of me becoming a writer and eventually an author is one of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and for me allowing to express my authentic self. I had wanted to be a writer since I was eight, but I didn’t…