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How do you balance work and home life?

Work-life balance. It’s a buzzword tossed around in offices, splashed across LinkedIn, and preached by managersyet it’s rarely achieved. Worse, it’s often misunderstood. Have you ever met a boss who raves about the importance of “balance” while slyly passing their workload onto you? I’ve been there, and let me tell you, those moments aren’t fun. The Reality of Juggling Work and Life Some time back, I was living solo in Kerala, managing a massive house while working remotely. My days were a whirlwind: cooking, cleaning, gardening, shoppingand, oh yeah, a skyrocketing office workload. My 16-hour daily schedule was brutal. The demands at work had quadrupled, and then came the kicker: I was asked to take on even more tasks. It felt like the universe was testing me, and I was failing. Exhausted and overwhelmed, I made a tough callI moved back to Mumbai. Why? Because home life there is easier… How do you balance work and home life?

gray monkey in thinking pose

Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

Waking up at 4 AM, the first thing that slips into my mind is, “Already?” It’s not a standalone thought but a quiet echo of whatever was swirling in my head before sleep. Our thoughts, I’ve come to realize, are never truly independent. They’re links in a chain, each one tethered to the actions, emotions, or moments that came before. At my age, I’ve learned to tread lightly with overthinkingit can spiral into stress and health troubles. When I find myself caught in a mental tangle, I step away. A short break works wonders: a walk, a cup of tea, or some small, unrelated task to reset my heartbeat. Once calm, I return to the problem with a clearer mind. Life’s challenges don’t always need to be tackled head-on. Sometimes, the best approach is a pausea moment to breathe and let the mind untangle itself.

woman doing yoga meditation on brown parquet flooring

What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

Negative feelings like resentment, hurt, or frustration can easily take over if left unchecked. Over the years, I’ve developed a straightforward strategy to handle them effectively. It’s not about suppressing emotions but channeling them constructively. Here’s how I do ita mix of distraction, boundaries, and problem-solving. 1. Stay Busy to Break the Cycle As the saying goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” When negative emotions creep in, I’ve learned that dwelling on them does more harm than good. Overthinking not only amplifies the pain but can also take a toll on my health over time. Instead, I dive into an unrelated activitysomething engaging that pulls my focus away. Whether it’s a hobby, exercise, or a small task, this shift in attention acts as a reset. Later, I can revisit the situation with a clearer, calmer mind, better equipped to deal with it. 2. Limit Exposure to Negative Influences… What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?