We get the "work-life" balance talk a lot early on in our careers as first responders. Don't hang out with other first responders. Make sure you leave work at work. Get hobbies etc etc. Hobbies are great, right up to the point when you find yourself too burnt out to actually enjoy or find the time to do them (I'll likely rant on this in the future).
What if, instead of thinking of them as one, you think of them as individual work balance, and life balance. What are you doing at work to better balance your life? This could be things like not drinking a mountain of coffee after a certain time so when you get home you aren't anxious as shit. This could be checking in with your spouse halfway through the day to simply connect. Or making sure your outstanding tasks are all cleaned up so that you are clear headed on your days off.
What are you doing in life to better balance your work? How about meal prepping/grocery shopping before your rotation to ensure you have some good healthy options for your shift. Setting ourself up for quality sleep the best we can. Rehabbing any nagging injuries or doing some mobility work. Making it a priority to down regulate your nervous system while off the job by knowing when it's time to work out, versus when you need to "work in" (walk, breathe, meditate, simple gentle movement practices, etc). Taking care of being a grown up versus letting the to do list/tasks stack up higher and higher, having the difficult conversations with your partner that you've set aside too long, etc, etc.
It's not the responsibility of our employers to ensure we balance our lives, that's on us.
That's on you.
If you spend your days off half switched on and still "in the job", and your work shifts stressed about home life your balance is fucky and you need to focus in on one or the other to get the balance back.
The problem with "work-life balance" is that it already ties the two together when they should never be. You are not a fire fighter at home, on a date, on vacation, or at a party. You are a husband, a dad, a partner, a friend.
Remember that.
If you want to have a conversation about finding that balance, or maybe to just tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. Click here
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