Lessons From A Workaholic

The Guy: Are you about to do work?

Me: Yes.

The Guy: (Chuckles)

Me: What?!

The Guy: Nothing. It's just that you're... a workaholic.

This was the conversation The Guy and I had a few days ago. It seems like every once in a while someone asks me "How?" How do I "do it all"? How do I raise a kid, have a full time job, blog, freelance write, spend time with friends, and well, sleep? A few years ago it was at an Avon event with supermodel Christy Turlington, and a few days ago it was after I posted this Facebook status update:

"And just like that, I can also add 'Adjunct Professor' to my resume." Yes, I got another job. Yes, I already have a full plate. Yes, I'm still taking this one on with excitement.

It seems as though I'm always in this constant state of "Go!" and, more often than not, I push myself pretty hard. But that's because I can feel myself getting closer to my dreams. I can smell it in the air, and it's a sweet, sweet aroma. Real talk.

But even in the midst of working hard at working hard, I'm learning valuable life lessons:

Be more productive and less busy.
There seems to be an epidemic where we need to feel super busy at all times in order to feel like we're getting ish done. But that's not necessarily true. These days, I'm aiming to be more productive and less busy. I'm aiming to be on the grind when it's necessary to scratch things off of my To-Do List. Working smarter -- not necessarily harder -- is what it's really about.

Learn From The Experts
I know some things, but I learned a long time ago that I don't know everything and I definitely don't have all the answers. But I have folks in my inner circle who are experts at a lot of different things. And I keep those people close to me so that in time of need, they're a mere phone call, text, or email away. They're my mentors, and I'm eternally grateful that I can learn from them.

Take Time to Enjoy Loved Ones
My Mondays through Fridays usually look like this: make moves at my day job, spend time with Aiden in the evening, write at night. Repeat. But, last Saturday, Aiden and I went to the theater to see Bob Marley's Three Little Birds. Then, we had a lunch date in the city. That night, The Guy and I went to Atlantic City to celebrate his friend's birthday. It's important for me to break away from my typical schedule and take some time to make memories with the folks I love. Needless to say, that Saturday was pretty spectacular. The next day, I pretty much did nothing. Which brings me to my next point....

Take time to do absolutely nothing
I used to think that I was wasting time if I spent time doing nothing. But, at some point, I realized that having a Do Nothing Day helps me recharge. And if I'm gonna get down with the doers and the movers and the shakers of this world, I need to recharge. 

I guess because I strive to have a bit of "balance" (whatever that means) in my life, that I don't feel like a workaholic. I simply feel like I'm working towards my dreams. I have the opportunity to turn my dream into a reality and I'm going to jump on that opportunity.

It'd be really tragic if I don't.