Work hard, play hard. Or work hard, then work harder? Work hard, stress harder?Â
Today’s culture of 12-hour workdays, 9 pm bedtimes, and exhaustion is—let’s face it—unsustainable. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love me a buckling down, get stuff done, girl-boss-type vibe. Being productive and crossing off my to-do list is one of my main thrills in life. I also love some play-hard vibes too. But I fear society has now lost the plot. What happened to being rowdy in your twenties and living it up the way those classic 2000s movies told us to? Why can’t we have work and play, and not feel bad about either? Wake up at a nice and neutral 7 a.m., work out, get a matcha or a coffee or whatever your heart desires, go to work or class, and do whatever the heck you want, you know?
So I can’t lie, I am both an early bird and a night owl, and I do live my life according to those modes. So for me, my morning and night routines are non-negotiable, and I genuinely believe those are the secret to my sanity. The “play hard” side of my life could be anything from watching Dancing With The Stars with my roommates, rewatching The West Wing alone (for the sixth time), wine night at home, or going out to the bars. My half-hustle lifestyle really does set me up for a good time, and I think a good lifestyle, either way. And that came with a lot of trial and error, believe me. I definitely fall prey to imposter syndrome, feeling like I’m not working hard enough or that I’m taking too many breaks. But the point of all the trial and error is that I found a lifestyle that works for me, where I’m at in my life right now, and my priorities, without feeling like I need to work harder or not have as much fun.
In an effort to combat this anti-fun, pro-work, rigid, hustle-culture lifestyle, here are some work-hard-play-hard lifestyle tips that I use to balance my life so that I feel accomplished and also still feel like I’m in my early 20s!
- I love waking up by 7:30 at the latest, especially on days when I have later classes, so that I can get a head start on my day and feel like I truly am making the most of the hours in the day. I really feel like I earned that glass (or two) of wine in the evening.
- I am also a morning shower kind of gal – I feel pretty and put together. There is just something so 2000s rom-com about blow-drying your hair, putting on a cutesy outfit and strutting out the busted front door of your old apartment building.
- My personal rule for myself is that 2 out of 3 things have to be done: Hair, Makeup, Outfit. Bad hair day? Okay, then a crisp outfit and a bold lip are the focus, and they take your attention away from those annoying baby hairs at the top of your forehead. Left your makeup bag at your parents’ house? Side note: ( I’ve done this twice so far this semester and it’s not even October). Blow that hair out and wear those big dangly hoops and a cute little fall cardigan. Embrace the French look of no makeup and lipstick.Â
- Make that bed, girl. My quilt is so cute, and my stuffed animals are even cuter. Why wouldn’t I want to make my bed, walk into my room after a long day of classes, and see my perfect bedspread all set up for me to flop onto?
- PRIORITIZE. Figure out what absolutely needs to get done, and get that done first. Don’t waste your precious 24 hours on trivial tasks like folding your underwear (I can’t do it. It’s irritating. And unnecessary. And it doesn’t even wrinkle). Get done what you need to get done, and save the rest of your time for doing whatever is next on your list of priorities. Whether that’s getting your nails done, getting a lift in, or doing those readings for class next week.
- Plan your outfits the night before! I love acting like I’m in third grade again, laying my clothes out during my night routine. I plan for the weather, I match my jewelry and my lip gloss, and I pick the perfect pair of socks that no one’s going to see. Bonus points if you plan your Friday outfit before going out Thursday night – one less thing to worry about if you’re hungover the next morning…Â
- Take a breath. Even if you are Superwoman, some things are out of our hands, and not everything can get done when we want it. But that’s okay! Because a little grace and a little more time are all we need. And you don’t get that without relaxing a bit; so take a chill pill, put down the self-help success book that’s making you feel bad about yourself, and just breathe, girl. Go to that birthday dinner and watch that trashy reality TV show. The time is going to pass anyway, so you might as well spend it having a good time :)
The hustle part of life is definitely something to work towards, but not at the expense of the other parts of life – like relaxing, or just plain-old not doing anything. Burnout isn’t fun, and it’s (unfortunately) our job as adults to take care of ourselves and build a good lifestyle to avoid it. Whether you use these tips or not, take everything day by day, and maybe try the “half-hustle” lifestyle like me!Â