Day off - reflecting on the full time gig and creative sabbatical

Had the day off today and I was thinking about the differences between this job at the coffee shop and my last job.


At my last job, I was a manager of an office - regular 9-5 (well, in theory) type gig. Big office with lots of cubicles and I had an office with a window. Nice office and very friendly co-workers some of whom I'm still friends with. The pay was great, more than 4 times what I make now.


Downsides? The hours were long because as a manager I of course helped everyone else out and had to cover if someone else was behind or out sick, then there was all the administrative paperwork and details a person never realizes occurs until after the promotion...


So, after giving an insane amount of notice, I left to start my creative sabbatical. I now work part time at the coffee shop and am spending time just experiencing life around me and having time to be creative. I'm reading more, more focused time on painting and other creative outlets, more home-cooked delicious meals instead of take-out and fast throw-it-together type meals, I'm sleeping more and generally feel healthier.


It's funny though, how so many of us spend so much time racing through the day just to get home, then racing through the week just to meet a deadline then rejoicing on our weekends even though it takes half a day to de-compress and another half a day to prep for Monday. At least, that was my experience.


Don't get me wrong, having the additional money was nice and in fact made this creative sabbatical possible, but I'm hopeful both experiences have changed me.


I hope that if I do go back to a full time position somewhere, I will insist upon a true work life balance. A 40-hour a work week should be just that, 40 hours, or maybe 50 during the busy season or prior to a major deadline. But managers that expect a person to commit themselves, their health and every ounce of energy to work 70 hours per week, or even more, can have it. Take it and have it. That's not the life for me!!!


So, cheers to creativity, and I hope that for a few moments today, you can make the time to let your mind wander, or let your pen doodle, or however your creativity finds it's expression.


Creatively yours today, Caffeinated Dee