Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries.Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries?When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly? My favorite is that Boundaries don't need to be grand. They just need to be established." I feel this because quite often I bite off more than I can chew. If I just pick one thing--two tops and stick to it, perhaps I can relax and enjoy my life more. I made a boundary at the beginning of the year that at 4 p.m. on school days I would start organizing myself for the next day and tidy up and be out my classroom door at 4:15. I am a work in progress. Overall, I am leaving earlier than last year, but there is still room for improvement. I want to start being deliberate during my time. Focus solely on the designated task at the designated time. I feel like I am living whole-heartedly when I am with those I love and connecting with them. I have a hard time taking breaks when I become determined to finish something by a certain time, even if it is a self-imposed deadline and I feel myself waning.
I enjoyed hearing about how his son had asked if he was on an airplane and his response was "No, I'm in a hotel." The kid responds and says "You're always in a hotel" and hangs up the phone. That hits home. I don't ever want to be a parent that isn't around for their children. I want to be there every step of the way, watching all of their firsts and successes/achievements. I want to to be at every ball game, dance recital, music concert, etc. I feel like I'm living life whole-heartedly when I have the perfect combination of work/home life. I enjoy being at school and teaching these bright young 3rd graders, but I also enjoy spending time with my family at night.
Less a line from the video, but more a thought that continued to pop up as I watched: 'Your job listing will be posted before your obituary.' I learned very fast that I would not handle work email on my phone (1 bad parent in my second year of teaching brought a quick end to that). But more and more, it is my policy that you can send an email and I will get to it on the next business day. I am often frowned upon when I have not responded to an email immediately or didn't see an improptu dress up day that was send over the weekend. But this is something that I must stick to and I feel strongly about. If we are to change the expectation, it must at least begin as an all or nothing, or else where do the 'exceptions' end? I feel best about this decision when I remember that I also have a job of raising my own children-- to which I am very committed.
I connected with his comment at the beginning of the career woman--who works all day, comes home and does all the housework, prepares the meals and finishes the dishes. I finally had to ask for help from my husband and children because I was finding myself to not be a very happy person. I try to leave at 4pm from my teaching job and leave the work at school, so that I can be focused on my family during the evening.
I liked the part about being a career woman and coming home to do the home "chores". My husband and I have learned how to balance home chores and we have a good system where things get done and we both do the ones we enjoy the most! I have taught for 22 years and at different stages of my life I have balanced work/home life differently. I started teaching before I had children so I spent more hours at school than I did at home. When our children were small I brought school work home to do when they went to sleep. Now our children our teenagers and I think I have finally found a better balance. I love making lists and have two lists on my desk. One list is for all the "big" things that need to get done but not necessarily right away. The other sticky note is for things that I need to accomplish that day. Before I leave for the night, I always check to make sure I have accomplished what needs to be done for that day. When I find that I have extra time, I accomplish something off the "big" list. I have learned that prioritizing what has to be done "today" compared to "someday" helps me stay focused and sets a boundary for me so that when I go home, I can be present at home.
This quote really stuck out to me: 'If we want to live a whole-hearted life, we have to be intentional about cultivating sleep and play and about letting go of exhaustion as a status symbol in productivity as self worth.' This is so me. I was never brought up to sleep or play, we worked and worked due to a large family and not many acres of land. This was absolutely fine with me: I knew I was loved and never felt I went without anything. I still find it hard to do the above because it is not in my nature and I find it really hard to stop and play or stop and rest - there is always too much to do - and there honestly is. When will I realize that there will always be something that needs done - whether it be at home or at school. Every day I feel like I am never done at school - there is honestly always so much more to do. I arrive early and stay late due to so much to do. I use my time very wisely, but, there are always new ideas to look up or behavior issues that need to be dealt with. I need to tell myself that it will never be done, and it is time to go home and it will all be there tomorrow. I feel like I am living life whole-heartedly when I am doing something with my family - nothing is better!
I liked the quote "You will have to determine what is driving you to tolerate a life of unbalance." The speaker said it was ego for him, but he had to ask himself, if I am so successful why am I so miserable. As for work life balance, I am pretty good at that. During the pandemic, was the worst time for me, because we were getting more and more responsibilities with the same amount of time, and while a lot of my coworkers were killing themselves to do more and spending hours doing it. I had to draw a line. I do what I can at work and if I can't do it I can't do it. I don't take it home. I started leaving all of my work stuff at work during the week, so I wouldn't be tempted to do things at home. I still do an hour or two of work at home on the weekend, but it does not take over my life.
Paraphrasing my take-awaay: My girls don't care about my title or salary, they want me to be home and present. Something has to give. More time as a family = SO worth it. I need to make conscience choices and slow down... take a step back to see the future. I'm not the only one my choices affect. Define the values I want to protect and list a boundary to help me attain it.
**I never really thought about work-life "Boundaries". I love that. Last year, I went through a season of burn-out and did a lot on self-care. One of my favorite sayings out of that was Work-Life Juggle - recognizing that 'balance' isn't realistic. BUT, I like the word "boundaries" even more because rather than just giving in to the "juggle"... it helps me prioritize and put in action items I can control!
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly? I appreciated that he made taking steps to create work-life boundaries very attainable. Sure, it could be quitting your job, but it could just setting aside Saturday afternoons for your loved ones. The story that really stuck out to me was his 3 year old son telling him he was always at hotels. I can't imagine how devastating that would be. I am in a much better place with work-life boundaries after changing careers and my job. My work was having a huge negative impact on both my mental and physical health and it was evident that a change was necessary. I am very grateful to have much less work stress and exhaustion in my life. I feel like I'm living life whole heartedly when I spend time reading the Bible and in prayer, take good care of my body with healthy food and exercise, and spend time with my husband, family, and friends.
I appreciated that he called it a journey. I am not sure any of us ever have life completely figured out. As life changes, and we enter into different stages, things change. It is a constant journey, but it is not one in which we have no power. We have the power to choose how we spend our time (much of the time, anyway), and for the most part, it is up to us to create our boundaries.
I am not great at this, but I continue to get better. I am learning to say "no" without excused. I am learning that busy does not equate to one's worth. Some of the most amazing women I know aren't those who worked themselves ragged, but took time to be mothers, enjoy hobbies, and who stopped to smell the roses.
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
I laughed a little when at the beginning, Carlos spoke about the roles of men and women. My husband and I have had many, many conversations about this exact thing. Now, as our adult children are newly married and starting families, we are helping them navigate the same types of conversations. I also really liked the quote, “If we want to live a whole-hearted life, we have to be intentional about cultivating sleep and play and about letting go of exhaustion as a status symbol in productivity as self worth.” Currently, I feel I have finally reached a very good work/life balance. I needed to change jobs and have to work daily on maintaining the balance. I feel like I am living life to the fullest when I am present and engaged for my family and taking in each memory and moment to the fullest. Along with being present in my personal life I also need to be fulfilled in my professional life.
I enjoyed the story of him talking to his son on the phone and him saying “you’re always in a hotel” and hearing his reflection from this. I feel like over the last couple years I’ve created a better work-life balance. I stopped coaching to free up my evenings and weekends and have also started really feeling “ok” with leaving things at school to be done at another time. I don’t ever want to be the parent that continually misses moments because of work. I feel like I whole-heartedly am living life when I’m teaching my 2nd graders and then coming home and being present with my family!
I identified as the career woman. I am a single mom and only have one child left at home. I work all day, come home, do the house work, prepare meals, do dishes...I have really had to be intentional about letting go of things that my 16 year old can do himself and teaching him about picking up after himself, shared space and his responsibility with that, etc.
My favorite line was "Letting go of productivity as self worth and validation".
At the end of the day, I do not want to think of my day as productive or unproductive in terms how how much I accomplished whether in the home or at work. I want to think of my day in terms of how much joy I had, what I enjoyed, and how it impacted my relationships. When he talked about his 3 year old saying "you're always in hotels" I resonated with that because I have two young kids and it is so important for me to be present with them even though I do have a full time job.
I do think I have a pretty good work life balance - I am able to leave at contract time each day and switch into mom mode. I do not often work in the evenings or on the weekend. I do however let work things take over my mental load and even if I am not actually working at home, my mind still may be there and my "worth" of the day as well.
A line that really struck me was: "What is driving you to a life of imbalance?" It made me think about what my answer was to that question. Work/life balance has always been tricky for me to figure out. There are just so many tasks that need to be completed in both places. I feel like I've gotten better at balancing things the older I have gotten. His simple list of 4 established boundaries showed that setting boundaries doesn't have to be an elaborate process. It's just about listing your values and setting a few boundaries to protect those values. I most feel like I'm living life whole-heartedly when I am truly present and mindful of the time I am blessed to spend with my family and friends.
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
I liked when he said boundaries don't have to be grand, they just have to be established. I also liked how he gave the principals to set those boundaries. This is something I struggled with a lot when I first started teaching but have gradually gotten better at it. I decided to not take home work on weeknights and only allow my self a couple hours on the week to work. I set this boundary and now I am able to have time to do things that allow me to life life whole-heartedly. I get to be present when I spend time with friends or family and not stress/ think about everything I need to get done for work.
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. The story that stood out to me was when his little boy called and asked if he was in an airplane, and his dad said "no buddy, I'm in a hotel." To which his boy responded, "You're always in a hotel!" I wonder what my own kids would say to end the sentence "Mom, you're always ____________." I have a feeling the answer will make me cry, just like Carlos did.
Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? I'm struggling with it, and to be honest I'd say I was at the very beginning. I started teaching first grade 8 years ago and spent the first two years not only figuring out how to teach first grade, but also getting my masters. I had 3 young kids at home at the time and it was HARD. It really set me up for some bad work-life habits right from the get-go that I haven't grown out of.
When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly? I don't know if I am most of the time. It's been a difficult few years personally and professionally and it's really sent me into a tough headspace. Feeling I should be home when I'm working, and feeling like I should be working when I'm home is a crummy cycle to be in. I'm trying to live life whole-heartedly and be completely IN wherever I am.
The story that hit home to me, was about the working mom who comes home, fixes supper, does dishes and the chores. I have created this, by not asking or expecting my family to help when I get home, I just do it for them. I have a good work-life balance. I get to school early in the morning so I can plan for the day and then leave at 4 pm, leaving most work at school. My thought is that it will be there for me in the morning and I need to enjoy the time with my family while they are still at home. I feel like I am living life whole-heartedly when I spend the day with my kids, watching them compete/participate in their activities. It is a time that I don't worry about grading, lesson plans, or all of the other committees/boards that I am on.
I thought the story with his son at the beginning of the video was moving. He was clearly emotional about it and it was monumental for him to shift his priorities and get over his ego at work. I spent the summer of 2022 (the summer that my son was born) preparing my classroom all summer long. I wasted so much time and tried to hustle during his naps to prep things for my classroom. I wasted time on my classroom when I could have been enjoying all the little moments with him. I am now 11 weeks postpartum with my second and have made it a boundary of mine to not come in to the school at all over summer until August 1st. I have rarely brought school home during the school year and often leave at contract time. It is important for me to be present with my boys at home. They aren't going to want to hear me say on a Saturday night that I have to go in and prep for the next week. They are going to want me to stay home and watch a movie with them. It's imperative that I set these boundaries now while they are young so they become habitual as they get older.
His statement of, "You have to determine what is driving you to tolerate a life of unbalance." Since an early age, working hard was a way of life. It was what I realized a few years ago, I was using as a standard in determining my success. Like Carlos, I was empty and miserable. With grand nieces and nephews coming into my life, I woke up! Family is my priority. Each year, I improve on focusing on my family. I leave school work at school. I don't have school email on my phone or reply to text messages during "off hours". My hardest work life balance is my cattle. They are a priority, also. However, my "Lils" love "helping" so it's an enjoyable experience when we are together at the farm. I am living a whole hearted life when I am with my family, engaged in the moment.
My favorite part of the talk was that your boundaries don't have to grand they just have to be established. If we do not have boundaries we will let ourselves be pulled away from the things that are really important to us in our lives. We will always find excuses and justify to ourselves the neglecting of those things that are really important and really keep us going. I am really living whole hearted life when I am making sure that I am taking care of my faith life and spending quality time with my family.
"Boundaries don't need to be grand, they need to be established" This was a line that really stood out to me. It made that connection of what boundaries truly are. They dont have to be some huge thing.. they just have to be established and part of the routine. This goes back to finding the really important things in life and not letting anything take away from them or get in the way. I am living life to the fullest by keeping my Faith strong, and building a family. These are two very important things to me and I am establishing that now so that it never wavers in the future.
I really appreciated Carlos' realization that he was missing out on his family's life and saw that it was part of the journey that he was not participating in. Establishing the work/life boundaries are so important. I feel that when our children were very young it wasn't so hard to set those boundaries for me, but it was much harder for my husband, who was working a couple of jobs trying to support the family. For me it got much harder when I went out to work and had to maintain a home at the same time and we had children events at all ages. I do feel that it is beneficial to set those boundaries. The benefits of realizing the importantance of the people in our lives does have a trinkle down effect on our children, who can see us making time for the people we love.
The statement “Define the values that you want to protect” really stood out to me. It reminded me that if something is truly important, we find a way to make time for it. If something is worth protecting, it’s worth the effort to prioritize it.
I’ve realized that I need to be more intentional about protecting my time. That means learning to say no to things that don’t align with my values, and being more consistent in saying yes to the things that do. Time is limited, and I want to invest it in the people, practices, and priorities that truly matter to me.
My favorite line is LUKE. Out of the mouth of babes. Sometimes it is the littlest voices that make the biggest impacts on our lives. Im so glad he listened and took it to heart what Luke was innocently telling his daddy. Sometime a child can sum it all up in a few words and those words change our lives forever. Our life has changed a lot from when our kids were little. Routine was key and very important. Now, if we want to do something fun or do something that we usually don't do, it works better now that we are empty nesters. We all still need boundaries. In our classrooms and homes, personal lives and in marriage boundaries are all good. Time seems to fly the older you get, and I want to enjoy and make the most of each one of those times.
I really liked the line, “Creating boundaries creates opportunities to show up.” Currently, I am working on establishing a more rigid work-life boundary so I am able to show up for myself and others. I feel like in the past, it is easy to come home and continue working on work-related tasks- because they can feel never ending! Now that I have started a family, I will be putting up more of a boundary and putting myself and my family time first.
I feel like I am living wholeheartedly when I am able to spend time with my family. During the summer, I spend a lot of time with my husband, parents, and extended family at our family’s lake cabin. I look forward to these weekends together every year. I am genuinely happy, care-free and content.
The line the stood out to me was "Boundaries don't need to be grand, they need to be established" Thinking of my life as an educator , and as a husband/ father, I think setting those boundaries 20 years ago helped me balance family and work. By all means, the beginning of my career had many set backs but I always managed to create even the smallest boundaries to help me balance work and family. Whether I was making sure family came first or not stressing about a lesson that did not go well. We can only control so much and we need to know our limits.
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
The line that stuck with me from Carlos Hidalgo was, "you are always in hotels." I would also be crushed if my child said that to me, I would want to be very present in my child's life and have always intentionally made my work/home life boundaries very clear and it is one of the best pieces of advice I received from mentors and coworkers. I am very lucky because the admin in my school are very encouraging about making that boundary clear right away in your teaching career.
We have to be willing to prioritize sleep & play and letting go of exhaustion as a symbol of productivity and self worth. At this moment I do not have a family of kids running around but I know that when I do my evenings will have to look much different in the world of teaching and coaching. Right now, especially in the coaching world most of my evening is still spent watching film and practice planning or Lesson planning for school. In the school department I have gotten better about working ahead during the day when I am able and not having to do much at home, but still tend to work on things here and there anyways. With coaching, I have not found that balance and it is something I will have to work towards shifting where that time is spent and how I still accomplish it with a family to spend time with as well. All of this to say, when we are in the career of being able to impact and affect change in students/athletes lives, I really do get fulfillment and joy from the extra work that I put in, because I really do feel like it makes me a better teacher/coach for my students/athletes. I think I have found a good balance for my season of life right now, I just know that it will need to change as a family grows.
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
Define the boundaries! I am feel like I have a good work/family balance in regards to spending time with my children. I feel like my husband and I need to define the boundaries for our relationships. We talk about it, try to fix it, but we inevitably fall back to being to busy for each other.I think we need to actually write it down and have it visible!
I connected with the career woman perception as far as being responsible for dinner, children activities, and chores. As a mother of three and full time teacher I leave work at work most of the time, but am running from one thing to the next regarding home life. I feel this school year I have done a much better job of leaving as much of work at work as possible. I am being intentional with balancing my after work time between home responsibilities and taking time for myself. I make an effort to relax by reading books I want to read, not that I have to for school or work. I feel like I am living life whole-heartedly when I am with my family enjoying the outdoors.
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is that Boundaries don't need to be grand. They just need to be established." I feel this because quite often I bite off more than I can chew. If I just pick one thing--two tops and stick to it, perhaps I can relax and enjoy my life more. I made a boundary at the beginning of the year that at 4 p.m. on school days I would start organizing myself for the next day and tidy up and be out my classroom door at 4:15. I am a work in progress. Overall, I am leaving earlier than last year, but there is still room for improvement. I want to start being deliberate during my time. Focus solely on the designated task at the designated time. I feel like I am living whole-heartedly when I am with those I love and connecting with them. I have a hard time taking breaks when I become determined to finish something by a certain time, even if it is a self-imposed deadline and I feel myself waning.
I enjoyed hearing about how his son had asked if he was on an airplane and his response was "No, I'm in a hotel." The kid responds and says "You're always in a hotel" and hangs up the phone. That hits home. I don't ever want to be a parent that isn't around for their children. I want to be there every step of the way, watching all of their firsts and successes/achievements. I want to to be at every ball game, dance recital, music concert, etc. I feel like I'm living life whole-heartedly when I have the perfect combination of work/home life. I enjoy being at school and teaching these bright young 3rd graders, but I also enjoy spending time with my family at night.
ReplyDeleteLess a line from the video, but more a thought that continued to pop up as I watched: 'Your job listing will be posted before your obituary.' I learned very fast that I would not handle work email on my phone (1 bad parent in my second year of teaching brought a quick end to that). But more and more, it is my policy that you can send an email and I will get to it on the next business day. I am often frowned upon when I have not responded to an email immediately or didn't see an improptu dress up day that was send over the weekend. But this is something that I must stick to and I feel strongly about. If we are to change the expectation, it must at least begin as an all or nothing, or else where do the 'exceptions' end? I feel best about this decision when I remember that I also have a job of raising my own children-- to which I am very committed.
ReplyDeleteI connected with his comment at the beginning of the career woman--who works all day, comes home and does all the housework, prepares the meals and finishes the dishes. I finally had to ask for help from my husband and children because I was finding myself to not be a very happy person. I try to leave at 4pm from my teaching job and leave the work at school, so that I can be focused on my family during the evening.
ReplyDeleteI liked the part about being a career woman and coming home to do the home "chores". My husband and I have learned how to balance home chores and we have a good system where things get done and we both do the ones we enjoy the most!
ReplyDeleteI have taught for 22 years and at different stages of my life I have balanced work/home life differently. I started teaching before I had children so I spent more hours at school than I did at home. When our children were small I brought school work home to do when they went to sleep. Now our children our teenagers and I think I have finally found a better balance. I love making lists and have two lists on my desk. One list is for all the "big" things that need to get done but not necessarily right away. The other sticky note is for things that I need to accomplish that day. Before I leave for the night, I always check to make sure I have accomplished what needs to be done for that day. When I find that I have extra time, I accomplish something off the "big" list. I have learned that prioritizing what has to be done "today" compared to "someday" helps me stay focused and sets a boundary for me so that when I go home, I can be present at home.
This quote really stuck out to me: 'If we want to live a whole-hearted life, we have to be intentional about cultivating sleep and play and about letting go of exhaustion as a status symbol in productivity as self worth.' This is so me. I was never brought up to sleep or play, we worked and worked due to a large family and not many acres of land. This was absolutely fine with me: I knew I was loved and never felt I went without anything. I still find it hard to do the above because it is not in my nature and I find it really hard to stop and play or stop and rest - there is always too much to do - and there honestly is. When will I realize that there will always be something that needs done - whether it be at home or at school. Every day I feel like I am never done at school - there is honestly always so much more to do. I arrive early and stay late due to so much to do. I use my time very wisely, but, there are always new ideas to look up or behavior issues that need to be dealt with. I need to tell myself that it will never be done, and it is time to go home and it will all be there tomorrow. I feel like I am living life whole-heartedly when I am doing something with my family - nothing is better!
ReplyDeleteI liked the quote "You will have to determine what is driving you to tolerate a life of unbalance." The speaker said it was ego for him, but he had to ask himself, if I am so successful why am I so miserable.
ReplyDeleteAs for work life balance, I am pretty good at that. During the pandemic, was the worst time for me, because we were getting more and more responsibilities with the same amount of time, and while a lot of my coworkers were killing themselves to do more and spending hours doing it. I had to draw a line. I do what I can at work and if I can't do it I can't do it. I don't take it home. I started leaving all of my work stuff at work during the week, so I wouldn't be tempted to do things at home. I still do an hour or two of work at home on the weekend, but it does not take over my life.
Paraphrasing my take-awaay: My girls don't care about my title or salary, they want me to be home and present. Something has to give. More time as a family = SO worth it. I need to make conscience choices and slow down... take a step back to see the future. I'm not the only one my choices affect. Define the values I want to protect and list a boundary to help me attain it.
ReplyDelete**I never really thought about work-life "Boundaries". I love that. Last year, I went through a season of burn-out and did a lot on self-care. One of my favorite sayings out of that was Work-Life Juggle - recognizing that 'balance' isn't realistic. BUT, I like the word "boundaries" even more because rather than just giving in to the "juggle"... it helps me prioritize and put in action items I can control!
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
ReplyDeleteI appreciated that he made taking steps to create work-life boundaries very attainable. Sure, it could be quitting your job, but it could just setting aside Saturday afternoons for your loved ones. The story that really stuck out to me was his 3 year old son telling him he was always at hotels. I can't imagine how devastating that would be. I am in a much better place with work-life boundaries after changing careers and my job. My work was having a huge negative impact on both my mental and physical health and it was evident that a change was necessary. I am very grateful to have much less work stress and exhaustion in my life. I feel like I'm living life whole heartedly when I spend time reading the Bible and in prayer, take good care of my body with healthy food and exercise, and spend time with my husband, family, and friends.
I appreciated that he called it a journey. I am not sure any of us ever have life completely figured out. As life changes, and we enter into different stages, things change. It is a constant journey, but it is not one in which we have no power. We have the power to choose how we spend our time (much of the time, anyway), and for the most part, it is up to us to create our boundaries.
ReplyDeleteI am not great at this, but I continue to get better. I am learning to say "no" without excused. I am learning that busy does not equate to one's worth. Some of the most amazing women I know aren't those who worked themselves ragged, but took time to be mothers, enjoy hobbies, and who stopped to smell the roses.
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
ReplyDeleteI laughed a little when at the beginning, Carlos spoke about the roles of men and women. My husband and I have had many, many conversations about this exact thing. Now, as our adult children are newly married and starting families, we are helping them navigate the same types of conversations. I also really liked the quote, “If we want to live a whole-hearted life, we have to be intentional about cultivating sleep and play and about letting go of exhaustion as a status symbol in productivity as self worth.”
Currently, I feel I have finally reached a very good work/life balance. I needed to change jobs and have to work daily on maintaining the balance. I feel like I am living life to the fullest when I am present and engaged for my family and taking in each memory and moment to the fullest. Along with being present in my personal life I also need to be fulfilled in my professional life.
I enjoyed the story of him talking to his son on the phone and him saying “you’re always in a hotel” and hearing his reflection from this. I feel like over the last couple years I’ve created a better work-life balance. I stopped coaching to free up my evenings and weekends and have also started really feeling “ok” with leaving things at school to be done at another time. I don’t ever want to be the parent that continually misses moments because of work. I feel like I whole-heartedly am living life when I’m teaching my 2nd graders and then coming home and being present with my family!
ReplyDeleteI identified as the career woman. I am a single mom and only have one child left at home. I work all day, come home, do the house work, prepare meals, do dishes...I have really had to be intentional about letting go of things that my 16 year old can do himself and teaching him about picking up after himself, shared space and his responsibility with that, etc.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line was "Letting go of productivity as self worth and validation".
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, I do not want to think of my day as productive or unproductive in terms how how much I accomplished whether in the home or at work. I want to think of my day in terms of how much joy I had, what I enjoyed, and how it impacted my relationships. When he talked about his 3 year old saying "you're always in hotels" I resonated with that because I have two young kids and it is so important for me to be present with them even though I do have a full time job.
I do think I have a pretty good work life balance - I am able to leave at contract time each day and switch into mom mode. I do not often work in the evenings or on the weekend. I do however let work things take over my mental load and even if I am not actually working at home, my mind still may be there and my "worth" of the day as well.
A line that really struck me was: "What is driving you to a life of imbalance?" It made me think about what my answer was to that question. Work/life balance has always been tricky for me to figure out. There are just so many tasks that need to be completed in both places. I feel like I've gotten better at balancing things the older I have gotten. His simple list of 4 established boundaries showed that setting boundaries doesn't have to be an elaborate process. It's just about listing your values and setting a few boundaries to protect those values. I most feel like I'm living life whole-heartedly when I am truly present and mindful of the time I am blessed to spend with my family and friends.
ReplyDeleteShare your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
ReplyDeleteI liked when he said boundaries don't have to be grand, they just have to be established. I also liked how he gave the principals to set those boundaries. This is something I struggled with a lot when I first started teaching but have gradually gotten better at it. I decided to not take home work on weeknights and only allow my self a couple hours on the week to work. I set this boundary and now I am able to have time to do things that allow me to life life whole-heartedly. I get to be present when I spend time with friends or family and not stress/ think about everything I need to get done for work.
Share your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries.
ReplyDeleteThe story that stood out to me was when his little boy called and asked if he was in an airplane, and his dad said "no buddy, I'm in a hotel." To which his boy responded, "You're always in a hotel!" I wonder what my own kids would say to end the sentence "Mom, you're always ____________." I have a feeling the answer will make me cry, just like Carlos did.
Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries?
I'm struggling with it, and to be honest I'd say I was at the very beginning. I started teaching first grade 8 years ago and spent the first two years not only figuring out how to teach first grade, but also getting my masters. I had 3 young kids at home at the time and it was HARD. It really set me up for some bad work-life habits right from the get-go that I haven't grown out of.
When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
I don't know if I am most of the time. It's been a difficult few years personally and professionally and it's really sent me into a tough headspace. Feeling I should be home when I'm working, and feeling like I should be working when I'm home is a crummy cycle to be in. I'm trying to live life whole-heartedly and be completely IN wherever I am.
The story that hit home to me, was about the working mom who comes home, fixes supper, does dishes and the chores. I have created this, by not asking or expecting my family to help when I get home, I just do it for them. I have a good work-life balance. I get to school early in the morning so I can plan for the day and then leave at 4 pm, leaving most work at school. My thought is that it will be there for me in the morning and I need to enjoy the time with my family while they are still at home. I feel like I am living life whole-heartedly when I spend the day with my kids, watching them compete/participate in their activities. It is a time that I don't worry about grading, lesson plans, or all of the other committees/boards that I am on.
ReplyDeleteI thought the story with his son at the beginning of the video was moving. He was clearly emotional about it and it was monumental for him to shift his priorities and get over his ego at work. I spent the summer of 2022 (the summer that my son was born) preparing my classroom all summer long. I wasted so much time and tried to hustle during his naps to prep things for my classroom. I wasted time on my classroom when I could have been enjoying all the little moments with him. I am now 11 weeks postpartum with my second and have made it a boundary of mine to not come in to the school at all over summer until August 1st. I have rarely brought school home during the school year and often leave at contract time. It is important for me to be present with my boys at home. They aren't going to want to hear me say on a Saturday night that I have to go in and prep for the next week. They are going to want me to stay home and watch a movie with them. It's imperative that I set these boundaries now while they are young so they become habitual as they get older.
ReplyDeleteHis statement of, "You have to determine what is driving you to tolerate a life of unbalance." Since an early age, working hard was a way of life. It was what I realized a few years ago, I was using as a standard in determining my success. Like Carlos, I was empty and miserable. With grand nieces and nephews coming into my life, I woke up! Family is my priority. Each year, I improve on focusing on my family. I leave school work at school. I don't have school email on my phone or reply to text messages during "off hours". My hardest work life balance is my cattle. They are a priority, also. However, my "Lils" love "helping" so it's an enjoyable experience when we are together at the farm.
ReplyDeleteI am living a whole hearted life when I am with my family, engaged in the moment.
My favorite part of the talk was that your boundaries don't have to grand they just have to be established. If we do not have boundaries we will let ourselves be pulled away from the things that are really important to us in our lives. We will always find excuses and justify to ourselves the neglecting of those things that are really important and really keep us going. I am really living whole hearted life when I am making sure that I am taking care of my faith life and spending quality time with my family.
ReplyDelete"Boundaries don't need to be grand, they need to be established" This was a line that really stood out to me. It made that connection of what boundaries truly are. They dont have to be some huge thing.. they just have to be established and part of the routine. This goes back to finding the really important things in life and not letting anything take away from them or get in the way. I am living life to the fullest by keeping my Faith strong, and building a family. These are two very important things to me and I am establishing that now so that it never wavers in the future.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated Carlos' realization that he was missing out on his family's life and saw that it was part of the journey that he was not participating in. Establishing the work/life boundaries are so important. I feel that when our children were very young it wasn't so hard to set those boundaries for me, but it was much harder for my husband, who was working a couple of jobs trying to support the family. For me it got much harder when I went out to work and had to maintain a home at the same time and we had children events at all ages. I do feel that it is beneficial to set those boundaries. The benefits of realizing the importantance of the people in our lives does have a trinkle down effect on our children, who can see us making time for the people we love.
ReplyDeleteThe statement “Define the values that you want to protect” really stood out to me. It reminded me that if something is truly important, we find a way to make time for it. If something is worth protecting, it’s worth the effort to prioritize it.
ReplyDeleteI’ve realized that I need to be more intentional about protecting my time. That means learning to say no to things that don’t align with my values, and being more consistent in saying yes to the things that do. Time is limited, and I want to invest it in the people, practices, and priorities that truly matter to me.
My favorite line is LUKE. Out of the mouth of babes. Sometimes it is the littlest voices that make the biggest impacts on our lives. Im so glad he listened and took it to heart what Luke was innocently telling his daddy. Sometime a child can sum it all up in a few words and those words change our lives forever.
ReplyDeleteOur life has changed a lot from when our kids were little. Routine was key and very important. Now, if we want to do something fun or do something that we usually don't do, it works better now that we are empty nesters.
We all still need boundaries. In our classrooms and homes, personal lives and in marriage boundaries are all good. Time seems to fly the older you get, and I want to enjoy and make the most of each one of those times.
I really liked the line, “Creating boundaries creates opportunities to show up.” Currently, I am working on establishing a more rigid work-life boundary so I am able to show up for myself and others. I feel like in the past, it is easy to come home and continue working on work-related tasks- because they can feel never ending! Now that I have started a family, I will be putting up more of a boundary and putting myself and my family time first.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I am living wholeheartedly when I am able to spend time with my family. During the summer, I spend a lot of time with my husband, parents, and extended family at our family’s lake cabin. I look forward to these weekends together every year. I am genuinely happy, care-free and content.
The line the stood out to me was "Boundaries don't need to be grand, they need to be established" Thinking of my life as an educator , and as a husband/ father, I think setting those boundaries 20 years ago helped me balance family and work. By all means, the beginning of my career had many set backs but I always managed to create even the smallest boundaries to help me balance work and family. Whether I was making sure family came first or not stressing about a lesson that did not go well. We can only control so much and we need to know our limits.
ReplyDeleteShare your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
ReplyDeleteThe line that stuck with me from Carlos Hidalgo was, "you are always in hotels." I would also be crushed if my child said that to me, I would want to be very present in my child's life and have always intentionally made my work/home life boundaries very clear and it is one of the best pieces of advice I received from mentors and coworkers. I am very lucky because the admin in my school are very encouraging about making that boundary clear right away in your teaching career.
We have to be willing to prioritize sleep & play and letting go of exhaustion as a symbol of productivity and self worth. At this moment I do not have a family of kids running around but I know that when I do my evenings will have to look much different in the world of teaching and coaching. Right now, especially in the coaching world most of my evening is still spent watching film and practice planning or Lesson planning for school. In the school department I have gotten better about working ahead during the day when I am able and not having to do much at home, but still tend to work on things here and there anyways. With coaching, I have not found that balance and it is something I will have to work towards shifting where that time is spent and how I still accomplish it with a family to spend time with as well. All of this to say, when we are in the career of being able to impact and affect change in students/athletes lives, I really do get fulfillment and joy from the extra work that I put in, because I really do feel like it makes me a better teacher/coach for my students/athletes. I think I have found a good balance for my season of life right now, I just know that it will need to change as a family grows.
ReplyDeleteShare your favorite line or story shared by Carlos Hidalgo in his talk, Setting Work-Life Boundaries. Where are you at in the process of establishing work-life boundaries? When do you feel like you are actually living life whole-heartedly?
ReplyDeleteDefine the boundaries! I am feel like I have a good work/family balance in regards to spending time with my children. I feel like my husband and I need to define the boundaries for our relationships. We talk about it, try to fix it, but we inevitably fall back to being to busy for each other.I think we need to actually write it down and have it visible!
I connected with the career woman perception as far as being responsible for dinner, children activities, and chores. As a mother of three and full time teacher I leave work at work most of the time, but am running from one thing to the next regarding home life. I feel this school year I have done a much better job of leaving as much of work at work as possible. I am being intentional with balancing my after work time between home responsibilities and taking time for myself. I make an effort to relax by reading books I want to read, not that I have to for school or work. I feel like I am living life whole-heartedly when I am with my family enjoying the outdoors.
ReplyDelete