I asked Brody to give me a few suggestions for Blog Post ideas. One of the posts he suggested was writing about work/life balance, I had to giggle. The more I think about it, the more I think What balance? Work/life balance sounds simple, but the reality is, I don’t know if it exists all the time. We’ve grown up believing that a “normal” workweek is 40+ hours, but not everyone fits into that mold. For me, working 20.5 hours a week feels just right. It gives me time to create, to fit in my appointments (I have a lot thanks to my mental state, Endo and PCOS), and to take care of lots of house things. I thought I was nailing that work-life balance… but if that’s true, why am I still struggling to feel connected? Maybe work/life balance isn’t the whole story. Maybe it’s really about relationship/life balance—figuring out how to make space for the people who matter, not just the tasks on my to-do list.
I find I can stay super organized when I write everything down. So, at the end of each month, I sit down with my colourful pens and planner (Have you checked out Wilde House Paper yet? Do it, and you can save 10% with discount code MIKAELAH10!)
I write in Brody’s work, Brody’s OT, my work, date nights, therapy, doctor appointments, family time, solo time and just pray to God that there is time to breathe. But if you’re married to someone who works shift work, especially a first responder, balance starts looking less like a perfectly organized planner and a little bit more chaotic, with an ever-changing schedule, and a fuck ton of white out! I notice things are way off balance when I see waaayyy more blue, which is Brody’s work schedule colour. My husband’s a paramedic, and while I am a proud wife (And ddammnn does he look good in a uniform!), there are times I feel I am juggling all the plates. Between the crazy shift patterns where he is up at any hour of the day or night, coming home at any hour, what feels like endless overtime, and the rare days off that disappear faster his cheques (living in Vancouver … am I right?), “balance” feels non-existent. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but damn is it a slippery one. The thing is balance isn’t just about work hours—it’s about what makes life feel sustainable and fulfilling. Some people thrive with busy schedules, while others need downtime to recharge. The trick is figuring out your own version of balance and being okay if it doesn’t match someone else’s. It’s messy, imperfect and ever-changing.
At the end of the day, what matters is finding what works for you—even if that means saying no to the hustle culture, embracing unpredictability, and realizing that balance doesn’t always mean equal.
So, whether your balance looks like 20 hours a week or 80, as long as it works for you (and leaves room for what fills your bucket), you’re doing just fine.
Balance … is knowing when to lean in, when to let go, and when to just order in pizza! (Our current fav is the Brussel Sprout and Hot Momma from Scratch Pizza!)
