Work-Life Balancing Act
Coming to you early so you don't miss out
Tonight, we’re kicking off our Nuanced Life Summer Series. Starting next Friday (June 7), you’ll be hearing new episodes from Sarah and Beth’s retired podcast, The Nuanced Life.
This revival was inspired by an email from a listener before our winter break:
How do you put boundaries around work so that you're showing up for your people there, too, when the rest of your life is a chaotic mess? How do you and your partner manage the meal planning and groceries and schedules and alone time and all the kid things? How do you ensure you have time carved out for self and for your marriage? I know it is possible. I know that if we are intentional, then more often than not, we can have some of those things (not every day, of course).
It was such a good question that Sarah and Beth wanted to do a whole episode around it. Then they realized there were a number of non-political topics that they had more to say about, and the idea for our Summer Series was born.
We’re kicking off the Nuanced Life Summer Series with Katelyn’s question and a live ticketed event on Work-Life Balance tonight. We’ll share our best practical advice, tips, and tools. And we know that this community is so helpful and supportive that you’ll also have plenty of ideas for each other.
You can still join us tonight (May 30) at 8 pm Eastern Time (7 Central) or watch the replay!
Here are a few starter Q&As from Alise and Maggie to get you thinking and ready for tonight’s event!
Q: How do you set boundaries when you work from home?
A: I've been working from home in some capacity for a decade. Setting good boundaries is about understanding your own vulnerabilities and having a clear vision of what success looks like for you in a day.
Does it help you to get up and change the laundry or does it disrupt your flow?
Is a separate working space vital for you (it is for me) so you feel that physical separation from the rest of your life?
Is your to-do list for the day even possible to complete?
What can you control, and what is out of your hands?
Good boundaries when you work from home require a lot of trial and error. Be patient with yourself. Learn the time of day you focus best and what your ideal environment is. Most importantly, walk away from your work as best you can when it's done. Set up different focus settings on your phone that alter your notifications between working hours and the rest of your day.
Ultimately, you won't get it right every day. Have grace with yourself and learn to set yourself up for success as best you can.
, Managing Director of Pantsuit PoliticsQ: Tips for Scheduling?
A: Last weekend, I took a giant calendar and put all our activities on it where EVERYONE can see. I’ve noticed that I have one kid who is more extroverted and one who is more introverted. My extroverted kid needs to go to day camp, have some external structure to her day, and lots of activity to keep her regulated and balanced. My more introverted kid loves to have spacious amounts of time to read, play with Legos, and play with a few special friends one-on-one. So, nurturing those needs was important to me this summer.
Noticing this about my kids has helped me notice that about myself.
What do I need to feel like a person? Do I need a commitment to a friend to ensure I take a walk outside? Where can I let go or scale back for now since I have to balance more work and childcare? Can I trade babysitting with someone so we both have some kid-free time every week or two?
There have been plenty of times when I was too overwhelmed to ask for help or know how someone else could help me. Still, I’m grateful for people who normalized that, stepped in and offered when I obviously needed help and didn’t ask, and realized that it makes things better (for everyone).
, Director of Community Engagement of Pantsuit PoliticsWe’d love to hear your questions, ideas, and tips for managing work, life, and everything in between!
Recommendation: Beth’s Best Swimsuit Available
One tip for balancing all the things at this time of year is having the things you need to have the best summer available. We’re delighted to share our partnership with Waterslide Swim1 with you this week.
Waterslide Swimsuits have solved a genuine problem in my house. My daughters swim almost every day in the summer.
They need functional swimsuits that
Hold up well
Stay in place (no straps falling, no riding up)
Are also cute
Age-appropriate
Feel comfortable and confident in their bodies
What I’m telling you is that we have a huge wish list for our swimwear.
Until Waterslide, every suit that we bought came up short in some way. We were always trading one quality for another until Kaylie from Waterslide reached out to me and generously sent me some samples.
Two seasons later, I still go directly to Waterslide when we need new swimwear. You can tell that Waterslide suits are designed and made by people who genuinely love girls. The suits and rash guards wash and wear beautifully. They’re perfect for long days at the pool. They’re brightly colored (and those colors hold up even with tons of use) and available in fun patterns or solids. I have never seen a strap slip or an awkward adjustment when my daughters are wearing the suits. And best of all, my daughters love them. You can tell they feel confident, beautiful, and happy wearing them. When the latest package arrived, they couldn’t wait to try them on and head to the pool.
I don’t like to do a lot of influencer content - it’s not how I think about myself or my work. I DO love to share genuinely good products that made my life better, and when a listener is involved, it’s the cherry on top. If you have girls in your life, run, don’t walk to Waterslide and get 20% off your order with the code PANTSUIT20
The one thing we made this week we can’t stop thinking about…
Sarah and Beth have been processing some things this week while the jury has been deliberating in Donald J. Trump’s trial. The result is a Mega Episode of More to Say that we can’t stop thinking about.
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I wanted to love these swimsuits, I really did but so many camps require stomachs to also be covered. Ugh! Please make a longer top and I will be happy to purchase.