tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544913458028415917.post6883011628346866002..comments2024-02-24T03:14:25.170-05:00Comments on A Half Baked Life: Midnight OilJustine Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14190295175501659469noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544913458028415917.post-20285852242296906072013-10-27T22:16:41.601-04:002013-10-27T22:16:41.601-04:00I consider my work/ life balance akin to the tides...I consider my work/ life balance akin to the tides- an ebb and flow. Sometimes I will need to work late hours, tuck my kids in bed to then log on to my computer only to then wake up at 5:00 am to return to work early. You are new in your job and it makes sense that now is the time that you want to work extra hard to show your capabilities.<br /><br />But sometimes I will leave mid-day for a school event or get to work right at 9:00 so I can exercise and be with my family. I leave at 4:00 to get my hair refreshed on occasion and I think I am acting as a role model to my employees when I ignore my emails while on vacation. I KNOW that I am a better employee when I have some personal time to focus on the regeneration of my body and mind. And with this I am freakishly good at my work too.<br /><br />I don't try to look at the balance of this on any given day, but rather to step back and look at the balance of the last six months or year. Is my employer happy with my work? Are my children and husband feeling well cared for by me? If the answer is yes, then I'm probably doing ok and can therefor push worry away again for another few months. Well, that's what works for me anyway....CSAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544913458028415917.post-18483259213123758932013-10-25T10:14:15.284-04:002013-10-25T10:14:15.284-04:00I'm with Sara, Gwinne, and Geochick. I just do...I'm with Sara, Gwinne, and Geochick. I just don't do it anymore. My body cannot take it and I frankly don't have the motivation to "make myself" do it, anyways. I am NOT my best self when I'm physically tired, and that ultimately affects my family, my health, and my work. If I can't succeed professionally while being well-rested, than I'm willing to wither in mediocrity. If I've got a major deadline, I may take some time on the weekends, or leave home early to get more work done (I'm up anyways, but usually hanging with the kids) but I can't imagine anything that would have me staying up late to work!<br />You certainly have more drive and ambition than I seem to, and that is awesome...just make sure you take care of yourself so you don't burn out.<br />anahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18320182732889825712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544913458028415917.post-19375614710470653582013-10-23T13:49:49.528-04:002013-10-23T13:49:49.528-04:00I got cured of burning the midnight oil in college...I got cured of burning the midnight oil in college, and have only fine it a few times since I started my career. There's just no time, and I need a lot of downtime. I'm recognizing now that I will never be at the pinnacle of my organization, because I only work as much as I need to get by. It's actually been a tough realization that I don't have the drive to get as far as I thought I would. Geochickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060602689692876499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544913458028415917.post-26389280693118017782013-10-23T09:11:50.587-04:002013-10-23T09:11:50.587-04:00Your friend's question is right on.
I started...Your friend's question is right on.<br /><br />I started prioritizing sleep after my PhD qualifying exams, when I was so burned out that I literally couldn't read (migraine aura).<br /><br />I'll get a babysitter if I need to work extra hours but don't stay up, or get up early, anymore. Don't tell my colleagues...gwinnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840990153103781272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544913458028415917.post-59477921575544705672013-10-23T08:46:14.275-04:002013-10-23T08:46:14.275-04:00I used to be the one burning the midnight oil, but...I used to be the one burning the midnight oil, but I have stopped. At some point, you have to say "enough", and I'm there. I love my work (well, most of it), but I love my family more, and I really don't think I can give 100% to both. So, rather than tearing myself into pieces trying, I'm giving my family 90% and work 75%. That means that there are others who work much harder than me. They will undoubtedly win accolades that I could have won with more effort. Such is life. I wish that I could get everyone to take a deep breath and smell the roses and give 75% at work, to level the playing field, but I can't control others. Just myself.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02747382929049494704noreply@blogger.com