School has always been stressful. It wouldn’t be school unless it made you want to pull all your hair out because of pure frustration. However, this year, we were faced with a new challenge: online school. 

This new system has garnered various reactions from all kinds of students, with different personalities and learning styles. Some absolutely loathe it, claiming that they have to learn everything by themselves. Others enjoyed the freedom that comes with it, being able to take more control over how they spend their time. Fortunately enough, I am  part of the latter group of people.

You can imagine just how excited I was at the beginning of the school year. I wanted to work out, journal, and read, all these things I thought I would be able to do, now that I had more time before classes. Even so, when school work started piling once again, these plans ultimately fell through. You know, just like every other year. And I thought I could just get on with it. Stick through the sleepless nights and the terrible feeling it left me with the day after. Not be able to work properly that same day because of how tired I was and watch my entire week spiral out of control.

But for some reason, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t force myself to stay up until three in the morning when I knew how it would make me feel later that day. I couldn’t spend my entire weekend working instead of spending time with my family. I couldn’t deal with it.

For a while, I thought that I had become lazy. I was losing my focus and I had to get my life together. I soon realized that my body just couldn’t put up with that kind of torture anymore. It wouldn’t. So I had to come up with a plan to work around it, and preferably soon. Here’s what I came up with and maybe it can help you too.

Step 1: Rest

Drastically changing your workflow will not happen overnight. It takes time and mental energy to change a routine that is probably built upon years of habit. Therefore, if you can, try to take a break from the responsibilities that you can temporarily put off.

Obviously, you cannot let go of school or work, but there may be a few things you can hold off for the time being. Personally, I took a leave of absence from Talang Dalisay for an entire month. The amount of time you take off—as well as the activities you choose to take a break from—are ultimately up to you. For the most part, it will depend on the gravity of these responsibilities, how much time you think you can spare, and how much time you think you need in order to effectively “restart”.

However, the most important aspect of this step is that it will be able to achieve the following. First, it will give you time to rest and recharge. Second, it will allow you to focus on yourself and your improvement with reduced stress.

Step 2: Recalibrate

Now, I mentioned all these things about offloading some responsibilities and giving yourself time to focus on yourself. However, before you take action, there is one important step you need to do first: recalibrate. Change the way you think about your own personal productivity and work. Consider rest and fun as an integral part of your weekly agenda and treat it as if it is just as important as all your school requirements and extracurriculars. Because it is.

If you want to be able to produce quality outputs, the amount and kind of breaks you give yourself must be of the same standard. Doing this will prevent you from getting burnt out and keep motivated throughout the week.

Step 3: Reflect

After changing your mindset, it’s time to think about how exactly you are going to improve your work-life balance. What exactly are you going to change from your current routine and habits?

If you are not sure where to start, try searching online. There are so many videos, blogs, and books out there that can help you and give you a few suggestions. Try listening to their advice and try out their techniques. Reflect on what you think would best suit you considering your working methods, personality, and lifestyle.

It’s important to contemplate upon these things because it will help you realize what you could possibly change about your current working habits. For example, one rule I decided to set for myself is that I am not allowed to work during the weekends unless absolutely necessary (usually when there is just too much to do). This was something I decided to implement after I learned about Parkinson’s law which states that “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”. Therefore, if I set a mindset that weekends “do not exist” then I will be able to finish all my tasks by Friday. Doing so has given me sufficient time to recharge as well as give me something to look forward to throughout the week.

Step 4: Realize

Once you’ve set a break period, changed the way you think about work, and figured out what changes you wish to make, it’s time to take action. Realize your plans. It definitely won’t be easy sometimes because as humans, we are creatures of habit. Consequently, it is so much easier to just fall back into our old routine. Nonetheless, you must remind yourself who you are doing this for. You. No one else but you. And you deserve nothing but the best.
As a notorious workaholic, I always thought that loving my work meant putting it above everything and everyone else. However, if there’s anything that the “reset” period has taught me is that my world must not only revolve around one single thing alone. As cliche as it sounds, there must always be a balance.

Before I end this article, I wish to leave you all with a quote. It is one that a close family member sent me during those difficult times which I also feel captures the essence of this piece quite perfectly: “A friendly reminder that “your best” doesn’t mean pushing yourself to your breaking point. “Your best” means the best you can do while being your best you. Get enough sleep, give yourself breaks, listen to your limits. “Your best” is better when you are happy and healthy.

About Talang Dalisay

Talang Dalisay is a non-profit organization founded in Manila, Philippines centering on mental health for our fellow Filipinos.  We are a young community of storytellers and change-makers, opening conversations on the current mental health stigmas in the country as well as aiding in the integration of persons with disabilities (PWDs) as members of our global community.

Our mission upholds the values of empathy, compassion, and empowerment. We aim to focus on action oriented projects that center on moving towards a society that validates the mental health and neurodivergence of Filipinos. We acknowledge that mental health is a systemic issue — it is an ever-changing and controversial topic especially as a BIPOC community. Thus, through our art and stories, we hope to create a higher consciousness and understanding of how to create inclusive spaces for all amidst these intersectionalities.

Our vision as an organization is to become a stepping stone for Filipinos to create spaces of inclusivity. Collectively, we hope to amplify the individual’s potential to shine purely; living in authenticity, truth, and purpose. Through our projects in elevating the mental health discourse, we hope to be one of many facets that encourage others to create more avenues for positive change, always embracing the ability in any disability.