Working at the Work-Life Balance While Trying to Live Life

Posted on February 2, 2016 by stevealbers

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Work-life balance. A lot of employees talk about work-life balance, a lot of employers talk about work-life balance, but it seems that few people actually achieve this balance.

Grind. Hustle. Strive. All good words, but they may have different meaning, depending on your own personal situation. If you are without a job, or in a job that you feel is below your value… you may be on motivated by essential things like paying rent, buying groceries, and putting gas in your car. While others that may be a bit more established might be on the lookout for something that can increase their value more, whether to retire a few years earlier, afford a bigger house, or pay for your kid’s college. No matter what your position, it all comes down to time and determination.

I’m battling the time issue right now. With work taking up the majority of my day, I feel strapped for “me time” that I can focus on other things. Does that mean I’m 100% from dawn to dusk? Not always, although it sometimes feels that way.

My work-life balance is focusing now on my family. Two kids (both under 4 years) and a wife is how I want to be spending my non-work hours. By the time we all get home, it is already 6pm. With the kids going to bed between 7:30-8:30pm, there isn’t much time to be together.

When they finally do go to bed, sometimes the last thing I want to do is open a computer to work, blog (pretty evident), or learn new things that may help me get ahead or into a different space. I read an article on Entrepreneur today, regarding “Motivation Porn” and how to stop it. I’m guilty of several of the items on the list, including watching tv to relax, not reading more, and doing the endless social media swipe/refresh/swipe some more.

At the end of the day, I would like to feel like I’m devoting my time to my family but also trying to work ahead. Right now, I’m not where I’m going to end up, and I know that it will be what I do (or don’t do) that will be the key to my future success(es).

As I’m getting back into writing, I realize that my overall writing needs some work. I started this post with a bit of an idea of where it should head, but then like most SNL skits of the 2000’s feel like it got aimless and should just end (whether it made sense or not). Writing tips are always welcome… as this is something input from outside sources can best serve.

Photo via http://www.gratisography.com/

Let’s take it from the top

Posted on January 11, 2016 by stevealbers

It has only been 23 months since the last post… a unintended nap that turned into a hiatus. While excuses are aplenty, I figure the only way to rectify the situation is to start up again.

A lot has changed since this blog originated. Two kids (now 3.5 and 1.5), house (about 57 years old but just 3.5 years with us as caretakers), and a new demanding job. There are probably countless other bloggers with more on their plate, but still able to bang out a few posts a week… that’s not me… yet.

With the job change, my ability to monitor, read, and produce material has taken a significant hit. Already 2.5 years into the “new” job and it still hectic day in and day out. Therefore, by the time we get the kids put to bed, the last thing I’m wanting to do is fire up the computer and start writing. Not the focus and drive of a hustler/grinder/entrepreneur I admit.

Lately, I’ve been having these thoughts during the day… of ideas that would make a good, brief blog post. By the time I have a moment to write it down, it has either faded from memory or no longer seems like the gem I thought it may have been.

No matter, I vow to start anew in 2016. If you’re reading this for the first time, I promise it will get better (it probably can’t get much worse!). I’m not even sure on the best RSS feed, etc. to follow blogs anymore (RIP Google Reader). That will be part of the learning and growing experience… but if you have wisdom to share, the comment box is below.

Happy 2016! Hopefully you still are working on at least half the resolutions you made less than two weeks ago. Firing this old jalopy up was one of mine… so better 11 days late than never.

Some times things don’t turn out the way you planned… but it’s not always a bad thing!

Posted on February 11, 2013 by stevealbers

I wish I could blame someone sacking me as a reason for the long absence. As I mentioned in my other blog recently, I had good intentions of regularly posting to both sites. Unfortunately, that ol’ thing called “life” sneaks up and distracts you from your goal. I guess one coming across this blog since mid-July 2012 may not know what happened… did we have the baby? How do we like being new parents? Are you guys still living in a one-bedroom apartment? And the list could go on…

I had plans to post regularly… then we bought a house, and I thought that would be great blog fodder. Unfortunately, the posts got a bit too much to sort out… I’m following a few different home/DIY blogs (most notably the superb: Young House Love). Each little project I was doing to getting the house ready, both pre- and post- move-in was deemed to be blog-worthy.

Needless to say, starting projects and sometimes not seeing them through to the finish is a common theme in my daily life. It’s not without good intentions, but maybe I take too much on at times.

Regardless, we’re starting anew. Our baby is 6 months old today and we’ve lived in our Long Beach home for over 7 months now… so as the title suggests, not all distractions are negative!

I’m going to keep it chronological order, as not to confuse our 3 readers. I’ll highlight the big events over the past 6 months and then go back for the projects, nuances, etc. of being both new homeowners and new parents.

I’ll also be spending a bit of time to get this site in order… am planning to learn a bit more as I go, so hang with us!

-steve

Bun in the Oven

Posted on July 7, 2012 by stevealbers

August 5th… the day our lives will change completely.

We found out that Mariam was pregnant in late November. It took a couple different home pregnancy tests to really confirm that it was indeed positive. We’re very excited to have an addition to our family!

February 5, 2012

March 14, 2012

March 17, 2012 (20.5 weeks)

April 18th, 2012 (w/ Sara Lozano)

May 28, 2012

June 12, 2012

July 4, 2012

We’re now about a month to go before Baby Albers arrives. We have a name picked out, a nursery prepped, and about a million questions/nervous thoughts. I’m sure we’ll be posting a ton as we enter the “parental” phase… so stay tuned!

Hawai’i bound!

Posted on May 15, 2012 by stevealbers

Honeymoon in paradise

Where else to better relax after months of prep and days of partying? Yep, Hawaii.

Seemingly, everyone who has visited Hawaii has their favorite location and/or island. We reasoned that since it was both of our first times there, and probably a long time until our second visit, we chose Oahu only. North Shore and Pearl Harbor were two locations that heavily influenced our decision.

Waikiki Beach after Steve’s first surf lesson/experience.

The first two nights in paradise were spent in Honolulu. Thanks to Steve’s business travel, were able to stay across from Waikiki Beach at the Hyatt for about $50. Honolulu was not everything we expected. It reminded us a lot of LA… lots of designer shopping, tourists and tourist traps.

Waikiki (live webcam of the beach) was amazing though, even with the constant throngs of tourists lining the beaches. Steve being the surfing virgin, took a lesson the morning of our last day in Honolulu. Surprisingly, he stood up a few times on the small waves… but a victory nonetheless. We followed up the lesson with an in-room massage. Tip- when planning a stay in a different town, search Groupon, LivingSocial, etc for deals before you leave. Yelp is also a great resource on the road. Besides the massage, we also picked up a great snorkeling package too.

As we left the city, Pearl Harbor was next on the itinerary. So much has already been said about this place, and words don’t always do justice. If you come to Oahu, you need to come here… the history, the serenity, and the power of this location makes it a mandatory stop.

The drive to North Shore was great… Steve enjoys driving and we were able to see some of the countryside. Our stay for the remainder of the trip was at Turtle Bay Resort. You may also know it as the resort in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” too.

Turtle Bay Resort – Where’s Mila? A coffee bar and not the reception desk? Oh well, I can get past it…

Sunset of our first night on the North Shore. Can’t beat cocktails and scenery like this!

A shot from our hotel balcony.

Eating, drinking, snorkeling, swimming and relaxing is the short and easy way to describe our stay.

Picturesque waterfall in a nearby park… don’t worry, we didn’t chase it.

The Banyan tree from the show “Lost”, we found it on a hike near our hotel. We also came across a WWII look out too.

For further excitement, we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Included in the event was a luau, educational presentations and a very awesome show (Ha – Breath of Life) to cap the evening. It was one of our last nights on the island and the performance is something that we’ll definitely remember!

At the luau, they called all the newlyweds onto the stage for a dance.

Checking out… while we’re smiling, we’re a bit sad to leave this place of natural beauty.

That about covers the long and short of it… we ate well, drank well and slept well. We thoroughly enjoyed the time together after the wedding, and it marked a great start to our lives together.

Where We Will Shine

Mariam + Steve