How Do You Balance Work and Life?

[cschin4]

I know alot of folks on the "fast track" who work alot of hours and spend most of their time working. I really don't think I could stand the full-time grind anymore. Fortunately, I am able to work part-time and have more time to spend with the kids. Sometimes I feel guilty because I could work more if I wanted to. But, DH works FT and we have enough to get by. But, sometimes I am asked why I don't want to go back FT. Are you on the fast track of life or slow track?

[Kris10Leigh]

I'm on the medium track and fighting to stay there. LOL! I work FT, but in the schools, so I am home when my children are home, and I really like that. DH works a lot, but his work is based largely out of the home, so the children get to see him. I'm very happy with our arrangment. I at least get "face time" with my children.

The other half of that story is struggeling to get the house work done, the homework checked, the lunches packed, the food to the table (without hitting up Taco Bell) and the kids to soccer practice.

How do I do it?

www.flylady.net

[Ima saver]

My track is so slow it is barely moving. I remember when I worked full time and did a lot of work for the junior woman's club. I was named workhorse of the year. Now, I like just walking on my treadmill for exercise and visiting you nice folks on the computer.

[creditcardfree]

I think this is something our family needs to work on. My husband works way too much. We don't do a good job of making sure we get our family time in around all the work and few activities for the kids.

My husband will be starting his new Army job in just under two weeks! Finally one job to focus on instead of two or three. I hope this will help us as a family.

Right now we're on the fast track to find him a place in the new town and get our house on the market. Do you know how much stuff I've thrown away this weekend?

Ima I can't wait for the slow track! Enjoy your journey.

[geojen]

I actually feel like I should be working harder! I am a grad student with three semesters left, but I only have to put in about 6 hours a day 5 days a week to keep up with my work load. I see other students putting in way more time. Maybe they just aren't as organized as me...

[PrincessPerky]

I am on the slow track, and that is where I like it, I have all the time in the world to hear about my kids latest idea for a cool dinosaur (made up thing) or about DD telling me of her dolls day, or hearing how my husbands day went.

Not that life is slow, on the contrary it goes by like lightning! UE can walk! and now can talk (foirst word, da=diaper..not dad, or mom, or anything cool, da...oh well)

GMC reads amazingly, rides his bike (with training wheels) and plays real games..sortof. JC is starting to read, memorize bible verses, and write.

DH has a website that makes money, I am the only boring one in the family..but I can get all 6 (including neighbor 15 year old) of us out the door in under an hour..does that count? oh and there is that website I am trying to do..(and learn flash editing, and making bread)

But none of life is 'rushed' forced..we have lots of time to head down to the creek, drop stuff off atgood will, orplay at the park while dropping of the recycling..or have company over for games...life goes just fast enough to make you appriciate when it slows down..but no more than necessary of our life is spent on making money. there are WAY more important things to be focused on...

[LuxLiving]

My life is in transition mode...it's been much like Princess Perky's for the last 18 years as I had kids and homeschooled them...as they are getting their learners permits, drivers licenses and cars and jobs - we're right there to where they'll be flying solo on their own soon and I'm thinking of heading back to PT work for a either a short term or good long while /or FT work for a short while or back to school to finish degree...am at decision mode time.

I thought while they were starting highschool work I should of finished my schooling but wanted to be there for them so I didn't. Now I have to make A DECISION.

Need only a few more hours to be fully credited w/Social Security on my own merits so I'm going to have to work SOME little bit to get that marked off the To-Do list. Then I'd really rather work on my investments as a full time stay at home thing than get a soul-crushing 8-5er!

I also am a Flylady fan! Used to be a workhorse like Ima, now my life is slower and I like it that way! We never did 5000 signup activities with our kids either. Everyone got to pick one or two and had to stick with them for some sort of 'season' before you could trash one and pick up
another.

My elbow always got me in trouble volunteering so I've cut way WAY back on that these days and show up for those things I TRULY Care about w/o signing up for anything. If I can make it or contribute I do, but I never promise anything like that anymore. IOW, look for me when you see the whites of my beady little eyeballs. {read that: burnout sufferer

[Ima saver]

Lux, my dh wanted me to quit work because I had to work every night and he hated being alone at night, all the time. I did go to a part time job about 5 days a month, so i could fund my IRA. Now, I have not worked in over 10 years and I really like not working. That is what I like about the $20 challenge. I have saved more money on that than I ever made while I was working!

[puppypal]

My life is in Turbo.
I work 50 hours every week and get up at 5am.....day starts at 6am and clean up around the house, not to mention smear the makeup on with a shower of course before hand... Then out the door by 7:15am to pick up my child's girlfriend and then take them both to school. Her dad and step-mom just split. Anyhow, I grocery shop or run around here or there in the time between that and opening my shop at 8:30am. Then I work til around lunch (Walk home) work is on the same acre as home. Try to put something in crockpot and let the doggies out, then back to work by 12:30pm......work til 5pm then off to town to pick son up from practice or go to a football game, teach thing, or church!
Back home to eat supper, extremely done by then and tidy up around the house. I do not move after 10pm my rule unless I am not home of course! ROFL. I make myself sit for twenty minutes before bed! That helps.
It is sooo hard some days. I started the baby thing a bit late and I am 41 and man ol' man Now I know why all the girls had them kids in thier teens!

[Gruntina]

Working just one 40 hours a week job would be considered slow track on my end. I work two full time jobs but it goes much beyond that often leading to more than 100 hours per week.

I have two full time jobs to pay off all of my debts hopefully by December and hopefully before lay off from my main job. I did not intend to keep the second job until the recent major organization structure change. I decided to go back to school in Jan.

In the mean time, working this much and pursuing a relationship with a wonderful man, it is extremely difficult as I am often exhausted when I come home and the hours are not allowing me to be available much to anyone from home life. It is also hard on my body as currently I am fighting a kidney infection. I am burnt out but I am going to just hang in there for 4 more month and hope to see my debts diminished which started at more than $50,000 to begin with. Going to feel so good then and I would not know what to do with myself afterwards lol! Will for sure spend more time hanging out with the gentleman and hope to remember how to connect with hobbies and personal interests again. I sure can’t wait and counting the days now!

[MonkeyMama]

I work 40 hours but it feels pretty slow track to me. I have worked some pretty long hours and multiple jobs in the past etc., etc.

For me, I will take the slower-paced, lower paying job any day. Life is too short. All the same, I will put in the time if I need to, depending on the phase of my life, etc.

During tax season I do work 50 hours for 4 months, but overall isn't so bad. I am sure happy once April 15 is over though!! Rest of the year seems easy peasy.

[Bookie]

I try to work just enough to maintain the illusion that I'm not wallowing in slothful retirement.

[Ima saver]

Sounds good to me bookie!

[scrava]

we are medium to high ourselves. Dh recently went to a 5 or 6 day 65 hour week to a 3 day 36 hour week (& more $, yay)! He is homea lot more now but is also in school. I work about 40-50 hours a week (used to be 40-44). I feel really, really busy all week. But, I do take time on the weekends to chill out. Money is ok. I feel like for all that we work we don't have a lot to show and would like to be a sahm soon.

[Saving in So Cal]

My husband and I use to both have fast-paced lives, but now I think we're both medium-paced. My job is 9-5, but my commute adds two hours a day to that. During the week, I get about 2-3 waking hours a day with my daughter. I try not to let anything cut into that by getting all of my errands done during the day and all of my chores done after she is asleep.

Since I had my daughter late in life, I have a realistic chance of being able to retire while she is in grade school. So, I hope to go from medium to medium-low in the next few years.

[Fern]

I'm on the slow track. I work a 35-hour week with no overtime. I also have a very part-time freelance gig but all together, work is easy, work is slow and i fee lilke i've lost my edge. If i wanted to kick ass i could make more money, but i don't know, i've lost incentive or something. I'm bored with my work but don't know what else i would do in its place.

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by MonkeyMama

I work 40 hours but it feels pretty slow track to me. I have worked some pretty long hours and multiple jobs in the past etc., etc.

* My job has regular hours, which is a plus. Having worked retail, I so appreciate M-F day hours.
* My commute is 5 min drive, or 20 minutes if I walk, with no traffic.
* I'm not in school right now...I've worked 40 hours and taken 14 units, and that still wasn't too bad.
* I am child free by choice. All of my time is my time.
* My Guy and I are pretty tidy and low maintenance and we live simply...we don't spend too much time on errands.
* I am low maintenance as far as looks. I can roll out of bed at 6:45 and be at my desk by 7:25. Then I can be home by 4:15 to 4:25, depending on walk/car.
* My job is challenging but not soul sucking. I don't come home wrung out.
* I am very lucky to have good vacation hours and holidays off. When I travel for work I earn comp time at time and a half, so that's extra time off. I can take 2 two week vacations a year with a few three day weekends here and there. In Europe that might look like a little but I know I am very lucky.

I think if you ever work crazy hours or go to school and work or have something else hectic/time demanding, when it ends you feel like you have a lot of time. When I was going to shcool and working full time, then got done with school, it seemed like my 40 hour a week was so very simple and short. Over time of course the same amount of hours feels longer.

[Ima saver]

My dh works seven days a week usually. But when he is home, he just works around the house or yard. He used to work til 9-10 at night, but lately, he has slowed down and rarely works past 7 pm.

[Reldon]

I am overworked. In a normal week, I am usually in the office from 7AM to 7PM. Also, I usually come in on Saturday for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, I don't make hourly or I would be making a lot more.

[boefixepa]

Um..after reading this, I know I'm lucky! I knew it before, but man I appreciate it now!

I work 40 hrs a weeks and occasionally more if needed. I take home challenging plans sometimes because it's easier to work at home...less distractions (read phone calls).

I get up at 5 and walk with the two high energy dogs for an hour
I leave the house for work at 7:20 - need to be at work by 8 but generally 15 min early
Leave work at 5, run any needed errands
Generally home 5:30 - 6
Depending on the day I have a work out group, yard work, house work, cooking
I generally take the low energy dog out for a lazy walk in the evenings (she's a couch potato, doesn't like the high energy walks in the morning, she'd rather watch!)
Catch the 9pm news and then head to bed!

My boss is great I get two weeks vacation, though if I needed more (not sure I really ever would) he'd let me take it.

Heck my old boss (owned the company before the current one) will send me on vacations! The last one was to the bahamas!

I enjoy my job, it can be hectic and frustrating sometimes, boring other times, but overall I enjoy it! I could make more money elsewhere, but I don't think I'd have the quality of life that I want.