The first step is to prioritize. I take my agenda EVERYWHERE with me. It's my life line and keeps me on track to getting everything that I need to get done for that week or even month if it's planned out that far in advanced. The first thing I do is write down all of my work hours and then I fill in any appointments I have such as doctors, dentist, etc. Those to me are the most important parts of my week. I also keep a finance log in my agenda that breaks down what bills I owe that month and how much is owed, but that doesn't really interfere with my schedule. If you ever want to see how I organize my agenda leave a comment down below! The next thing I will do is fill in any important dates such as birthday's or celebrations that I know I need to be there for. After all of the major things are filled in for that week I will try my best to plan things to do on the weekends. I love having my Sundays to run errands and get all of the things I need to get done before my work week starts all over again. That means that my Friday and Saturday nights are for my friends and family.
Depending on how I'm feeling that night or if there's anything else going on, my friends and I will usually do a late dinner or go bar hopping that night. Going out to the bars isn't something I do every weekend. It's not good for my body, my wallet, or my feet. You try walking around in DC in heels! However, it's always a lot of fun whenever we do go out all together. You can always count on someone making you laugh, someone making you cry, and someone getting a bit too intoxicated. The best part of this is that you always know what to expect, which means I know the day after is a lazy day. I will lounge around and rejuvenate from a fun filled night and an exhausting work week. My lounging days will usually consist of a face mask, taco bell, and reality television. Since my mom has off on the weekends this is usually our time to catch up and hangout. I love days at home just hanging out with the family. You can usually catch me watching The Real Housewives with my mom or watching football with my dad.
Another way my weekend will usually go is having some planned things to do. For instance, If there was an event going on that weekend or that Omar and I were going to the Redskins vs. Eagles game. If I have things planned out I can do other things around it like running errands or going out to lunch to catch up with others. There are other times where I specifically leave certain weekends open, because I just want whatever is coming to come. I know never know when Rocio is going to want to go to the mall or my grandma needs to go on a Starbucks run. I like having days where I don't know what to expect, because I always know what to expect Monday through Friday, it's nice to just go with it sometimes.
I also plan my blog posts as much as possible. Blogging takes up a lot of time - more than you would possibly think. Having it planned out when to start writing, when to edit, when to take the pictures, when to hyperlink everything and when to post it helps me out tremendously. I try to not overbook myself with blogging and just get them done whenever I can. If I start to stress about it, it becomes less fun and that's the whole reason I do this. It's fun to me! It's my creative outlet outside of everything else. Another way I keep my mind sane from a crazy week is working out. I used to have a lot more free time to workout, but now it seems like I only get to go to the gym on weekends or once or twice throughout the week. It honestly really depends on what my day is like and how much it takes out of me. However, I do try to go as often as possible and I feel so much better when I do. Besides going to the gym I also meal prep. My guilty pleasure is my Starbucks coffee I get every morning, but besides that I eat pretty healthy. It's important to do so when you're as busy as I am. It saves me from spending money on fast food and of course stops me from eating fast food! I don't meal prep as intense as others do, because I don't want to eat the same thing every day. I meal prep to save time and to be healthy. I don't plan out what I'm going to cook Sunday nights, I just cook whatever I have access to or what sounds appetizing to me that day. Most of what I make is rich and Morning Star vegetarian chicken or steak. This really does saves me time and money throughout the week and I highly recommend this process if you have the time!
Another way to balance my work and social life is social media. I can't explain how crazy it is that I used to create MySpace codes just for fun, but still had to use dial up Internet to talk to my friends on AOL Instant Messaging and nowadays my friends are just a few clicks away. Being in group messages is a great way to stay up to date with your friends even when you're not physically with them. When I was in North Carolina the group message with everyone was my way of staying in touch even though I was never there with them. It makes time go by for when you actually do get a chance to all hangout together and it's as if you haven't missed a beat, because you've been in contact with them all along.
Most importantly, just make time for yourself. Don't stress about everything that has to get done or things you don't want to do. It's okay to say "no" sometimes. Your friends will still be your friends at the end of the day. Sometimes, you just need a break. You don't have to constantly be on the go-go-go. Take a breather and chill out. Having a clear mind is the most important thing when preparing to start a new week.
I hope this helped! What are some tips that you have for balancing out your two worlds?
xoxo, Michele
