THE MANY HATS WE WEAR

THE HIGHER THE HATS….

By SarahVi Pate

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

Have you stopped recently to count all the hats you wear throughout the day? What number did you come up with?

Professional, Boss/Employee, Mother, Wife, Daughter, Household Manager, Neighbor, Taxi Driver.. Etc. The list goes on and on. These different titles, or “hats” we call them, can be exhausting! As women, we never really “clock-out” for the day, we simply remove one hat and replace it with another.

Throughout the day, women walk around stretched thin, at the same time trying to get “one step ahead” in the game of successful living. You see them, too. Let’s be honest… it you, it's me.. It's the lady sitting across from you at the coffee shop. It's most of us (we just won't confess it to each other). We are desperately seeking a work-life balance.

As we work towards better worklife integration and living a full life, here are a few strategies to consider that you might find helpful:

LEAVE A LITTLE ROOM ON YOUR PLATE.

Don’t take on so many roles and responsibilities, that you have no wiggle room. Guilty! Remember, life involves surprises and unexpected events. Leave some room for those.

FOR EVERY YES, THERE MUST BE SOME NOS.

Each time we take on a new role or enter a new opportunity, we need to evaluate all other commitments and consider what to let go. Letting go doesn’t always mean “forever,” but rather, “just right now.” Perhaps it’s your season to let go of commitment and return to it another time.

INCLUDE SELFCARE.

Oxygen. “In an emergency, please secure your own mask first!” How many times do we hear that when traveling? Take care of you– then take care of the person(s) around you. If you’re going to provide for others, make sure you are taken care of as well. What does this look like? Massage? Shopping? Time with friends?

I’m proud to live in Tallahassee where there is such a strong network of Women supporting Women. Successful women, at that. I’m proud of each one, while at the same time, knowing you wear more than your business title.