Pictured above is what a typical week would look like for me. I have to “pencil” in everything – Yes, that includes scheduling my own BIRTHDAY. It’s the only way I’m able to (attempt) to keep track of everything and keep my head on straight.

All my life, I have been taught that you have to work for everything you have. I started working as early as possible (I think I was 16 at the time?) And have gone through multiple jobs. I am glad to say that I have a great deal of experience at this point. My first job was shelving books in a library… monotonous to say the least. I then went through an array of other jobs, including: working at a deli, working at a law firm, being a hostess/busser at a fine dining restaurant, working at a state park, receptioning at a salon, and then working as an assistant for the vice president of enrollment management at my school. I still work for my aunt’s law firm and reception at the salon. I also recently found out that i am going to be an assistant for the fashion blog Fashion is My Fort!

I am the type of person who needs a lot of variety, hence the slew of jobs I’ve transitioned to and from. I’ve never gotten fired and am on very good terms with all my bosses, but I’m the type of person who knows very quickly when it’s my time to move on to something new in my life. Working is pretty much all i know at this point, and I really pride myself in being able to say that essentially everything I have, I’ve earned entirely on my own. 

With success comes sacrifice, I’ve learned the hard way. I’m discovering at a very young age how much of a toll overworking yourself can really take on your mental, emotional, and physical health. I went many summers working 40 hours a week (or more), and then 20 or so during the school week – being a full-time student simultaneously. There was a time I was working 60 hours a week between my two jobs. That was definitely my breaking point.

It’s very important to remember that you must remember to take time and care for yourself. There have been so many instances that I have put my jobs before my happiness, and that realization really hit me within the last year. Working is important, and I am extremely grateful for the knowledge/experience/skills I have gained – but you have to find a balance for it in your life.

I think in this fast-paced society, it’s very easy to feel like you’re falling behind if you’re not doing 3 million things at once, but sometimes you really need to put your life on pause and evaluate how you are treating yourself. At the end of the day, you are the most important person in your life, and you can’t burn the candle at both ends. take it from someone who has become a professional juggler of responsibilities – you have to take care of yourself or you will lose your ability to strive.