The Balancing Act
If New York is the city that never sleeps then politics is the vocation that never stops. There is always another election, another piece of legislation to fight for or against, and even another Happy Hour to attend. So in this busy whirlwind, how on earth do you balance a busy schedule AND have time to breath? The key in all these situations is to find out what you need and how to get it.
What do you need to recharge? Maybe your daily run, time to catch up on the news, or designated time to do absolutely nothing helps you get through the day, Make sure that you set aside time for the activity that re-charges you. Go to bed early so you can fit in your time in the morning if you have evening plans. Vent to your best friend over lunch. Even though there’s only 24 hours in a day, make sure that at least one of those hours is just for you!
Never sacrifice the essentials. Food, sleep, and shelter. I’ve seen people throw their everything into their job and lose one of these without even noticing. Make sure you’re eating food that will get you through the day. Pizza is delicious but not everyone can eat it 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. Get however much good sleep you need. Create an atmosphere where you can relax and make sure you get actual rest. Finally, make sure you keep up with basics like rent and utilities. Nothing adds more stress than losing your apartment or coming home to no power because you forgot to pay the bills.
Learn when to cut something out. Guess what? You’re not superman and that’s OK! You don’t have to run 10 miles a day, work 12 hours, make it to every happy hour, and spend 4 hours chatting on the phone with friends and family. Figure out your schedule ahead of time and when a day looks over-booked, figure out where you can make some cuts. The FOMO(fear of missing out) lifestyle is unsustainable so instead, look for balance. If you had a happy hour last night, maybe spend some time with your friends tonight. If you need to work late 2 nights in a row, plan a relaxing evening for the 3rd night.
Don’t sell yourself short by trying to pack too much into the time you have. Instead, make the most of your time. It’s a delicate balance but take a deep breath because you’re gonna make it!
Need to pick a happy hour? Come out to the Career Networking Happy Hour on Wednesday, November 12th hosted by the Leadership Institute, America’s Future Foundation, the Heritage Foundation, and the Center for Shared Services. Click here for more information!
Aynsley Harrison is Career Services Coordinator at the Leadership Institute.