The idea of actually starting life again and going back to “normal” after the year and a half we’ve all endured, it can seem like too much.

Sometimes, I reminisce about the times waking up before 10 am to go to the gym, read, write and cook, which were some of the most ‘productive’ days I would repeat for months during the pandemic.

Yet now, I’m wide awake, ready to face the world by 6:30 am, making my journey to work until 5:30 pm. Not only that, but the hour-trip back would usually be delayed by two more hours of workouts at the local gym. Finally, I reach home at 9 or 9:30, where I find the time to eat dinner, shower, apply the meticulous 6-step skin-care routine I have adopted just before lockdown, quick FaceTime to my boyfriend (all whilst planning the outfit for the office the next day), then sleep.

It has taken nearly a month of starting a new job to finally find a routine that works for me. A way in which I can balance being twenty-two years old, with a boyfriend, who loves working out, spending time to socialise with friends, and time to meditate and continuously properly practice self-care. (Although I have yet to ace it, I’m getting there.)

Tips and thoughts that I have picked up within the last few weeks:

1. Getting enough sleep is a top priority!

No matter how much coffee is consumed throughout the day, that mid-afternoon fatigue is unbearable.

Especially if you’re partaking in athletic activities throughout the day – it is important to get that eight to ten-hour of sleep to perform your best.

2. Pack and prepare the night before!

Now, if you’re working on your punctuality, this is the holy grail of saving time in those early mornings. Preparing your lunch, outfit and other things you need the night prior is very important. Not only do you save time in the morning, but most of this ‘preparation’ never takes as long as your procrastination-prone brain thinks it will.

Making your lunch not only saves time but money! Having sustainable and healthy meals are essential in maintaining physical and mental health.

3. Coffee is your friend – but you can make other friendships too!

Whether it’s a latte or iced, coffee does work wonders in the early mornings. The productivity in the mornings with a coffee beside you is something else. However, it is important to have a break from it once in a while, which can be done through having a variety of other drinks or snacks to help boost the sugar in your body to help with mental and physical exhaustion.

Alternative drinks such as herbal teas, fruit juices, smoothies and most importantly - water. As well as taking a quick break or getting some well-needed fresh air from going outside. Even verbal affirmations such as ‘you can do this!’ or a moment to recognise your thoughts; letting these feelings pass rather than being infuriated that they have arrived creates mental and emotional friction that lets these feelings of tiredness linger for longer.

4. Meditate!

Find time to meditate throughout the day. If it’s in the morning, the evening before bed, or even through walking or sitting down to recognise your in-breath and out-breath – the long-term practice of meditation has shown to have beneficial effects on controlling emotions, reactions, and productivity.

There are many ways to get into this practice; through apps such as Headspace or Calm, which gives individuals the foundations of where they can start when it comes to this. Thousands of books; classes, or online videos, where you can join others to find different ways that work for you.

I have found this to be freeing as it has taught me the art of detachment and recognition of my true self and my emotions, which is a lifesaver when living in a society consumed with shaping who you should be. Balance those chakras!

5. Realistic workout routines!

From only having university lectures, seminars, and assignments to worry about, there was a lot of flexibility within my daily schedule, therefore, time! Time to spend hours working on physical appearance and endurance, thus, hours in the gym.

However, being in a full-time 9-5 being logical with the energy output with balancing work and remaining fit has been the hardest.

To deal with this – rather than having 8-12 exercises per session, I have learned to spread these sessions into 4-6 exercises, creating a two-week timetable to fit in all the workouts I want or need. You can find many workout routines available for you out there to achieve your desired results.

6. Make time for your loved ones!

Going into this new avenue of constantly working, travelling, and working out, it can be easy to get lost in the moment, which can lead to leaving your relationships and friendships in the cold.

This can be easily resolved by communicating: even small messages or videos or comments throughout the day to show you’re present and there can mean the world.

In those spare minutes, you have walking to and from or planning or preparing – drop someone you love a message or call!

7. Journal!

This way of venting to yourself allows you to identify and acknowledge the moments and thoughts you may have stored away throughout the day; being able to free those feelings, then read back can aid in evaluating yourself and your environment massively. Even increasing a sense of meaning to your life, plus they stand as reminders of memories, feelings, and future personal or professional goals you may want to achieve in the future. Being aware of your emotions is very important in controlling them.

Don’t let feeling bottle up inside!

8. Take self-care days!

Whether it’s the weekend or a weekday – do not hesitate to put your wellbeing first.

Everyone worries about money, especially sick pay or lack thereof, but is burnout worth it?

Imagine yourself as the person you love, would you allow them to exhaust themselves into complete depletion? Especially when that single day of rest can resurrect the productivity, motivation, and creativity within you that needed to be tended to, before you can bloom.

9. Be open to change!

Though some of these things or routines may work now, there is always room for change.

It is valuable to have a base to remain grounded, however, anything can happen. Be open to shifting features of yourself and your system around to benefit you.

10. Stay creative!

Do not let this culture of hyper-productivity and capitalism with its prerequisite to incessantly cage individuals into daily work for survival, dim your true passions in life.

Find the time to create or do things that are fulfilling to you! Keep the spark for your true aspirations lit!

Forever grateful for my wonderful family, friends, colleagues and boyfriend for keeping me afloat during hard times!

Balancing Work, Gym, Relationships, and Self-Care!