Work-Life Balance

[John_of_Woking]

Hello

How does one cope with the Work-Life-Spirituality balance?

I mean I work late three nights a week to cope with my workload. I don’t pray enough … not enough time (pains me to write that)
I feel empty spiritually and emotionally… and I feel burned out.

Now if i did leave work on time every day I guarantee my performance would drop and ultimately I’d be on the dole like a lot of other unfortunate souls. I have a child to feed…this is not an option.

Does anyone else here have these sorts of issues and how do they solve it. I am sure trusting in God would help more…but any advice:shrug:?

 

[Em_in_FL]

It’s easy to sneak prayer in anytime!
The trick is to make it a habit - squeeze it in for just a few days and it’ll become routine.

Personally, I love my driving time home from work - 15 to 20 minutes - PERFECTLY timed for a daily rosary!
Lunch break?
Shower time?
Just as your head hits the pillow at night?

HTH!

 

[whatevergirl]

*What EM said.

I also think you’d be surprised at how you can cut down on other activities, and (name removed by moderator)ut prayer into that time, and not miss those other activities. I have cut down on my tv watching so I can pray the rosary at night, if I miss praying it during the day. And so on. We were given just the right amount of hours to work, have time with family, and most importantly, have time with God…God knew we didn’t need more time than 24 hours which is why He created a day to hold that many, we just need to MAKE the most of the time He has given us.

Just tweak a few areas and put prayer and family into those spots…and you’ll have enough time before long. God bless!*

 

[grandiosa]

Prayer does not have to be formal, nor does it have to take place in a special time. It’s nice if you can carve out part of your day just for that, but it doesn’t have to happen that way.

My kids and I pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the car on the way to school in the morning. I realized that our family prayer life was lacking, and that was an easy way to remedy it. I got the recording from CatholiCity.com and it was free! Our drive is not long enough to do the whole rosary, but the Divine Mercy Chaplet on this CD is about 6 minutes.

I love that we start out our day reciting the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles Creed, and then pray for God’s mercy for ourselves and everyone else. Every day my kids practice two of the most basic prayers and declare their belief in the Church, the Trinity, and the Communion of Saints.

I guess that is formal, but it’s not a set-aside time where we are doing nothing else. I am driving them to school.

I have lots of informal chats with God throughout my day. Sometimes it’s to say thank you for something, sometimes it’s to ask for help with something, and sometimes it’s to apologize for something. No structured words, just talking to God. And sometimes I try to just be quiet and listen incase God is trying to tell me something. When difficulties arise, I have even been known to say, “Okay, God, what are you trying to teach me with this one?”

You can have a spiritual life even when your temporal life is very full. If you feel overwhelmed, then that is when you really need it. You take breaks for lunch, coffee, snacks, bathroom, right? The walk to the restroom or the kitchen or your car is largely empty time, mentally. Use it to your advantage.

Hope that helps a little. I know how it feels to have basically no time. I seem to have that problem nearly every day. And I only work part-time outside the home!

 

[gardenswithkids]

Hello

How does one cope with the Work-Life-Spirituality balance?

I mean I work late three nights a week to cope with my workload. I don’t pray enough … not enough time (pains me to write that)
I feel empty spiritually and emotionally… and I feel burned out.

Now if i did leave work on time every day I guarantee my performance would drop and ultimately I’d be on the dole like a lot of other unfortunate souls. I have a child to feed…this is not an option.

Does anyone else here have these sorts of issues and how do they solve it. I am sure trusting in God would help more…but any advice:shrug:?

I don’t work outside the home, but I work a lot within my home. You sound burnt out from working long hours without finding spiritual refreshment.

I heard something phrased much more cleaverly than I can remember about how someone had so much to do that they couldn’t afford time NOT to pray. By setting aside time for prayer to find rest and refreshment in the Lord, we can get much more done in the same amount of time. It doesn’t have to be a long time. It can start with prayers in the shower while you get ready for work and continue with listening or praying along with religious devotions on the drive to work.

In the spiritual life, work itself can become a prayer. You can inject little prayers throughout the day do help you get through your day. “Lord, please help me with this project.” “I offer up this suffering to You.” “I know this is nothing compared to what you went through for me Jesus.”

If you are really feeling burnt out, I suggest you consider finding an adoration chapel or open Catholic Church near your work to simple spend some time resting before the Blessed Sacrament, (maybe over your lunch break or right before or after work.) I haven’t found the time to take a retreat for many years, but just spending a few minutes in front of the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration helps me find refreshment when I’m feeling close to burn-out. (I’m not recommending commitment to a weekly obligation, but just stopping in for a few moments.)

 

[PaulinVA]

I would love to be home 24 hours a day, at work 12 hours a day, going to daily Mass, spending an hour and a half at the gym…

That adds up to too many hours! I adjust as I can. But, it’s hard to not feel pulled from several sides, all for good reasons, but it still seems that sometimes I don’t devote enough time to anything.

I pray the rosary on the way to work, after I drop the older kids off at school. I talk to God all day long. I try to make every interaction count, whether it’s with coworkers or family. And, I pick myself up every morning and try to do as well, if not better, than the day before.

 

[The_Catechumen]

I would love to be home 24 hours a day, at work 12 hours a day, going to daily Mass, spending an hour and a half at the gym…

I once saw a movie where a woman was simultaneously on the treadmill at home, talking to her boss on her Bluetooth phone, watching soaps and helping her kid with her homework across the room. Apparently it can be done…

Sorry but I don’t have much to add. These are already great suggestions, and ones that I’ll try to do myself. Thanks folks.