WORK - LIFE AND THE BALANCE
Updated: Mar 6
Ok so here's the thing...I started 5TH AND JUNIPER at a time when I needed it the most. At the time, I was dealing with a dramatic experience and needed something to get me through the day, something to take my mind off of things. Yes, it's a site to host all of my thrifted finds and sales on home decor but the truth is, 5&J started as a lifestyle blog, a "safe" space to write out my most bottled-up thoughts.
I needed to take things one at a time though, and the thought of having an online store, blogging/content creating, and working full time, all while trying to "heal my soul" was just all too much! So I started with something that I was good at, had the time for, and something that I'd probably do for free...reselling.
I think my favorite thing about reselling is the flexibility and versatility of it all. You can make it what you want and get out of it what you put in. I love to create little marketing inserts and flyers for new arrivals or custom-packing poly mailers (idk it's just my thing) and on the days that I'm tired and don't have the energy to create, I simply list items on reselling platforms so that the money continues to flow. It's an all-around win.
However, after a strong year in a half of going hard in the reselling game and creating 5&J in itself, I begin to miss the other things that I use to do to clear my mind and feel better about life in general. I loved to read, go for walks, journal, sit and listen to music, enjoy anything outside, and just be "still" in the moment. However, I realized that I had allowed the business to completely shift my focus and mindset. I was always in a "go" mode with no time to stop and smell the roses...literally.
As time went on, I realized that I was currently living in a "wish" that I once had. You see, when I was going through that tough time mentioned above, I wished that I had more balance in my life. At the time, I was reading, living an extremely healthy lifestyle, spending time with friends and family, writing daily, and wishing that my career life would be just as smooth and easy as my personal. I knew that I wanted a small business, I knew that I wanted my everyday 9-5 to be easier and stress-free so that I could "really" focus on "said business" and I also knew that I wanted to live a peaceful life in general, that was the most important part.
I guess all of this kind of goes along with gratitude. I was so focused on growing my business, that I forgot to stop and think about how far I've come. I realized that I was currently living out my wishes and completely forgot to be thankful for the things that I'd already accomplished. For example, my daily 9-5 was stressing me out (in ways you wouldn't even imagine) but I purposely adjusted my career path and accepted a lower-paying position. It was a bit of a shock at first and something that I had to get used to again, but it gave me what I needed most...time, convenience & mental clarity. That time allowed me to put more energy into building 5&J, my new job and residency created an extremely convenient space to be able to pretty much work on reselling and get my daily duties of the position done at the same time, and my mental health had improved in a major way because of it all.
BALANCE
As of today, I'm working on the balance of it all. I've reached a bit of a coasting period, "smooth sailing" if you will. The initial shock of a new career, home, and small business start-up has subsided and I'm ready to approach life differently. No pressure to get things done by a specific time, no pressure to create content for social media, no pressure with my 9-5, no pressure for ANYTHING! I've realized I'm so much happier taking things slow and steady and I look forward to introducing the simple things back into my life again.