Journal balancing act

How do you balance work and home life?

I’ve come to realize I haven’t been very good at balancing home and work life. The main reason? I keep putting others’ needs before mine. Even when I’m finally doing something I enjoy, I get pulled into doing things for others. It’s not that I don’t want to help—it just happens so naturally that I lose track of my own plans.

Today was a good example. I had planned to trim the grass. But as soon as I mentioned it, my mom said it’s a job for professionals. Still, something about it made sense to me—it felt personal. Like how I trim my own hair. It may not be perfect, but it keeps me comfortable.

I also thought of the mosquitoes that sneak in through the window panes at night. They don’t bite anyone else but me. I figured if I trimmed the grass, there’d be fewer of them hiding around, waiting to feed. It felt like a simple act of self-care—just like combing my hair in the morning. In a strange way, sweeping the grass felt like combing the garden. Taming it. Tidying it up.

So I decided to act before anyone could stop me. I got up early—earlier than my mom. I did everything I wanted to do, including trimming the grass. I cleaned up the mess quietly before anyone was awake. No questions, no interruptions, no explanations. Just peace.

It reminded me of how I used to rush to get ready for work—leaving the house on time, grabbing breakfast, getting into the flow before the day began. That early morning space felt sacred. Like a kind of sadhana, a daily practice I’ve been missing.

Maybe that’s what I need more of—those quiet pockets of time just for me. Before the world wakes up and pulls me in.