The case for work-life balance.
Six months ago, I drove away tearfully from the Church Mary Immaculate car cark en route to work, pleading earnestly to God to give me another job that would afford me work-life balance.
I was barely a month into my new job at a 5-star prestigious resort but I was already exhausted and burnt out -- primarily from the two consecutive years of toxic work environment previously.
Honestly, I didn't expect God to listen to me. Here I was, already praying for another job when I had just been granted my prayer request for a new job. If I were God, I would be rolling my eyes. Except I wasn't.
A couple of weeks later, just before Christmas, I would receive an email lead from my website at kookiePR.com. The website had been left dormant for almost a year and was nearing its 'expiry' date. I was already considering letting the domain expire, as it wasn't bringing in business anyway -- until it did.
"Hi," the email said, "We're a local NGO in KK who are looking or someone to manage our social media pages. I came across your website and I understand that you're based in KK as well. I know that it's almost the holidays, so you don't have to reply immediately. You can get back to us after the New Year, no worries." The email signed "Audrey of DGFC".
Wow, a considerate potential client. I thought. Despite the risk of sounding desperate, I replied to the email immediately and arranged for an online 'interview'.
Despite thinking that social media work is only for junior-level executives, I accepted the challenge and got the job from my KK Food Buddy referral.
A month later, during my first in person meeting to discuss the social media analytics, the Director of the organisation told me, "We'd like to have you in full-time."
I spent the next three months weighing my options: a well-paying managerial job at a large multinational brand vs a 'biasa-biasa' officer job where I'm the Jill of all trades -- handling social media, PR and all things communications.
Nonetheless, having endured four stressful months of long daily commutes, weekend overtimes and demanding responsibilities, I eventually decided to choose living life and life to the fullest -- never mind with a lot less money.
Today, I'm already two weeks in my 'new' job. It isn't much but it is peaceful and it is enough to cover my needs. It's a part-time job (as they couldn't meet my salary request), so I only needed to be in the office one day in a week. The rest of the days, I work from home in the comfort of my tie-dye baju kelawar.
I'm back in the gym and back to having a social life. I probably wouldn't be going on a shopping or travelling spree anytime soon, but hey, I'm happy with less -- which even I am surprised with.
Most importantly, I am back to letting God take care of me instead of trying my hardest to take care of myself. It feels easy, just like how Jesus says his yoke would be.
