Nourish your whole self. This month, find your balance.

In the past month, I’ve re-joined my writer’s group, taken a virtual course to improve my teaching, revamped sections of my class for the next time I teach it, conducted multiple interviews for another article I’m writing for a non-profit, and managed all of my regular M.T. Deco content strategy workload. On the homefront, I helped my older son transition back into preschool, managed multiple doctors’ appointments for my littlest one, took many trips to the park and one to the zoo, and let my kid eat a granola bar that fell on the ground outside. I don’t share this to say “wow, look at me, I’ve got so much stuff going on,” I share it because I’m sure your life looks similar to this. Maybe the tasks are different or there’s more on the homefront than in the professional realm or vice versa, but we’re all juggling. A lot! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that ever-present pandemic hanging over our heads, which always takes up too much of my headspace. 

But when I look at everything that’s on my plate, despite my claims that I’m not a goal-setter [thanks, Melissa for calling me out on this], I actually have a pretty balanced meal. Every item I add to my plate has a purpose. I view writing as a muscle that needs to be flexed and I find my writer’s group to be a perfect outlet for that exercise. It’s a group of supportive women, all career writers, who push me and critique me and get me to do actual classes on writing that I know make me better at all my other gigs. I want to be a better teacher, so I signed up for a class to improve that side of my career. I want my students to learn effectively, and so I distilled their end-of-course feedback into practical changes I could make to my class so next time around it’s even better. The writing I do for the non-profit is the closest thing to journalistic writing I still do, and I want to keep my interviewing and journalistic skills sharp. Just like the food groups, everything nourishes the various facets of my overall career. And of course, I want to be present for my kids and so I ensure I also have time to play with them, be there for them during changes and routine events, even if that means they eat the occasional dirt. 

Last month we talked about courage -- about your ability to do the things you want or need to do even if those things are scary. This month we’re taking it a step further and helping you find your footing once you’ve taken the leap. Balance is the key to feeling fulfilled no matter what you’re juggling. If that includes multiple skill sets at work, or family and friend obligations, or just the desire to have a little fun after 18+ months in a pandemic, you have to find what works for you. And we’re here to help. 

This month our founder Melissa shares what balance (or lack thereof) means for her as a mom and entrepreneur. We’ve also got a piece on how to strike the right balance of publishing across your accounts, and we’ll have a deep-dive into Facebook’s horrible month and what it could mean for your business.

As always, we have some fantastic contributors lined up as well. Megan Collins is back with her fall-inspired reading list and tips for how she manages to read ALL THE BOOKS at once. Resident DJ Lissie Jacobson serves up the perfect playlist for all your juggling needs. We’ll also hear from Natalie Bastian, SVP and head of marketing at Tubi, who has her own inspiring approach to balance that she’s sharing with you. 

We hope you join us this month in taking a look at what you’re juggling and being intentional with what you put on your plate. We’re here to help you make sure you’re nourishing all aspects of yourself and finding the balance that’s right for you. As you find your footing, we’ll be right here, cheering you on.