One Little Word 2014 : Balance
I ended up taking an unintentional “January break” this year… which, actually ended up fitting in with my “One Little Word” of “balance.”
I’ve said this before– 2013 was a little bit of a rough year. I was in a job where I disliked the work, and hated the negative environment, horrible pay, and long commute even more. The job (with it’s endless, pointless, constant “fire drills”) stressed me out and started wearing me thin. This affected my personality and relationships. . . and I hated that even more. I started trying to throw myself into my scrapbooking and online work, but I’d even lost the motivation or desire to do that… all around, I was getting depressed, and it seeped into every area of my life. I knew I needed to get out, but I didn’t just want to take the first job that was offered to me if it wasn’t the right “fit.”
In December, I accepted a position with a company that was smaller, closer to home, better pay, and had ten times the positive atmosphere that my other job did. I cut almost 10 hours a week just in commute time. I couldn’t believe that– I gained 10 hours a week! It’s so much of a better environment for me, and I am completely grateful.
As much of a joy it was to gain the 10 hours a week, I started over committing myself during those extra 10 hours right away– especially since it was December– CHRISTMAS! Holiday parties, time with family, shopping for presents,wrapping presents, traveling to celebrate with family, decorating the house, trying to document every single thing that happened in December… plus learning the new ins and outs of a brand new job, in a brand new industry.
I got exhausted fast. I got overwhelmed fast.
I have always had a problem with over committing myself. Over extending myself. The inability to say “no.” I get an idea for something and I go all in…. and then get overwhelmed and panic and (sometimes) don’t finish. Or I finish the project and I’m so overwhelmed and exhausted I end up hating or resenting whatever it is. I don’t know if this makes sense to anyone but me, ha!
I knew in 2014 that I wanted things to change. I didn’t want to be overwhelmed and exhausted and resentful– especially since I had this new day job that is so much better for me. I knew I wanted to commit to– not resolutions or goals– but a word to guide me in 2014. Of course, if you’re in the memory keeping community at all, you’ve probably heard about Ali’s One Little Word Project. I’d taken the class before (of course! I’m an over-committing class junkie!) but hadn’t put as much effort and ooph! behind making the intentions and commitments work as I should have. But this year, I’m going to make it work. Or try to, at least.
I threw a couple of words around in my head– Focus, my failed word of 2013 (I wanted to focus more in 2014… but what on? It was too vague for me and would lead to over-commitments or boredom.); Choose (my thought was to “choose intentionally” or “choose what I wanted to do” but then my husband pointed out that I would probably just choose to do everything. Valid point, valid point.); and then, I asked myself: “Allie, what do you NEED this year?”
And I realized, I need to find BALANCE.
Balance between work life and home life.
Balance between blogging for me and blogging to advance my business.
Balance between a hobby and a business.
Balance between promoting friends & projects I love and my own projects.
Balance between scrapbooking to record memories and scrapbooking for artistic expression.
Balance between spending time with a hobby, business, and community that I love and spending time with
Balance between learning new skills and honing existing skills.
Balance between enjoying food and enjoying too much food.
Literal balance. Yoga, my friends.
I don’t expect to find the perfect balance in 2014… but I do think that I will make strides to get a little bit more balance in my life, and can only be a good thing!
What’s your word for 2014?
