Returning to work after taking time off has felt both grounding and challenging. This first week back has been all about balancing a full-time job and my side projects while trying to protect my peace. I’m grateful I got to take a break from work, but part of me feels scared that my old habits might creep back in and that I might lose the momentum I’ve built these past few weeks for my personal projects, like my blog.
After 5 weeks away on FMLA, I finally returned to my 9–5 this past Monday. To say I was excited to go back would be a lie. I always knew this day would come, but I didn’t anticipate the anxiety to hit a few days before I had to return. I was overthinking everything; returning to a toxic environment, seeing people again, and worrying about how it might affect not just my routine, but also my mental and emotional well-being.
Walking back into the office kind of felt like the first day of school. I was anxious, nervous, and scared, but also grateful that I have a job. As the day went by, I realized it wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined. That’s when it clicked: my mind had been playing tricks on me this whole time. Most of the fear I felt was just that, fear. It wasn’t reality.
Listening to My Body
A few days before returning to work, I noticed my left breast started to hurt again, and the pain from my plantar fasciitis came back. At first, I brushed it off, but deep down I knew my body was trying to tell me something.
Those physical symptoms were my body’s way of speaking loud and clear: “Something here isn’t right.”
It was confirmation that the job I’m in is no longer aligned with where I’m headed. This time, I’m choosing to listen differently. Instead of making an impulsive decision and quitting out of frustration, I’m being smart and strategic about my next move. I want to take the leap, but with intention, preparation, and a clear plan.
The Reality of Finding Balance
In a previous post, I wrote about how intentional I wanted to be during my 5 weeks off. That I didn’t want to make the same mistake of letting time go to waste. So I focused on building discipline and consistency, two things of my biggest struggles.
Being out of work helped a lot because I finally had time to experiment with different systems and routines. Each morning, I wrote down my to-do list and set clear intentions for my day. I wanted to bring that same structure into my work life when I returned. But the truth is, this week has been harder than I expected.
By midweek, I noticed how mentally exhausted I felt after being in front of a computer for 8 hours. And the last thing I wanted to do was open my laptop to work on my blog after a long day in the office. That’s when I realized something important: I needed to adjust my expectations and rework my daily routine to avoid burning out.
This week has been a trial run; a reminder that balancing a full-time job and my side projects is going to take time, patience, and grace.
Adjusting, Not Quitting
If I’m being completely honest, this week didn’t go as I had imagined. It’s been hard to find my rhythm again without falling back into old habits. I’ve had to remind myself that it’s okay to be tired, to rest, to readjust.
What matters is that I don’t give up. I won’t abandon myself or my dreams just because it’s hard.
This experience is teaching me that balance isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about showing up in small ways, even when life feels heavy. It’s about learning to flow with change, not resist it.
So no, this week didn’t go as I wanted to and that’s okay. I’m learning to release expectations and live more realistically. I know I’ll find my rhythm again, and when I do, I make sure to let you all know.
Key Takeaway
Balancing a full-time job and side projects isn’t easy; but it’s possible when you give yourself grace, listen to your body, and remember that growth happens one imperfect day at a time.
