6 answers
Austin
Student
Mission, Texas
2
Questions
Asked
1847 views
For a professional lifestyle what does break or days off look like ?
I’m having trouble balancing like “free time”, vacation, personal life time, but I have mu priorities like work, school, honing my craft that I take seriously. I feel like I’m constantly neglecting parts of my life. When I'm in “free time,” I feel like I should be working; when I’m working, I feel like I work too much and need a break. Or vice versa I have too much “free time” and I’m not working on my priorities enough?
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6 answers
MANAHIL Mujtaba
Student
19
Answers
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Updated
MANAHIL’s Answer
Hiii !
I feel the same way as you. It is hard to balance school, work, and free time. Sometimes I feel guilty when I rest, and tired when I work too much.
Here are some simple tips:
- Make a small plan for your week.
- Take short breaks so you don’t get too tired.
- Rest is important, it helps you do better later.
- Focus on one thing at a time.
You are doing well by thinking about this. Breaks are part of a healthy lifestyle.
Manahil
I feel the same way as you. It is hard to balance school, work, and free time. Sometimes I feel guilty when I rest, and tired when I work too much.
Here are some simple tips:
- Make a small plan for your week.
- Take short breaks so you don’t get too tired.
- Rest is important, it helps you do better later.
- Focus on one thing at a time.
You are doing well by thinking about this. Breaks are part of a healthy lifestyle.
Manahil
Your advice was so helpful!
Austin
Diana Rodriguez Velasquez
Psychologist
54
Answers
Memphis, Tennessee
Updated
Diana’s Answer
Hi Austin!!
In many professional and creative careers, rest days and time off are not always clearly defined, especially early on. Instead of a strict separation between “work” and “free time,” balance often looks more seasonal and flexible—periods of intense work followed by intentional recovery.
What many people experience (including what you’re describing) is guilt on both sides: feeling unproductive when resting and burned out when working. That usually isn’t a sign of laziness or lack of discipline—it’s a sign that your expectations may be unrealistic or unsustainable.
One helpful shift is redefining rest as part of your professional responsibility, not something that competes with it. Rest improves focus, creativity, learning, and long-term performance. Without it, even meaningful work can start to feel draining or empty.
Instead of asking “Am I working enough or resting too much?”, it can help to ask:
-Is my current rhythm sustainable for months or years?
-Am I intentionally scheduling both effort and recovery?
Work-life balance in serious careers isn’t about perfect equality—it’s about self-awareness, boundaries, and adjusting your pace over time so you don’t lose yourself while building something you care about.
In many professional and creative careers, rest days and time off are not always clearly defined, especially early on. Instead of a strict separation between “work” and “free time,” balance often looks more seasonal and flexible—periods of intense work followed by intentional recovery.
What many people experience (including what you’re describing) is guilt on both sides: feeling unproductive when resting and burned out when working. That usually isn’t a sign of laziness or lack of discipline—it’s a sign that your expectations may be unrealistic or unsustainable.
One helpful shift is redefining rest as part of your professional responsibility, not something that competes with it. Rest improves focus, creativity, learning, and long-term performance. Without it, even meaningful work can start to feel draining or empty.
Instead of asking “Am I working enough or resting too much?”, it can help to ask:
-Is my current rhythm sustainable for months or years?
-Am I intentionally scheduling both effort and recovery?
Work-life balance in serious careers isn’t about perfect equality—it’s about self-awareness, boundaries, and adjusting your pace over time so you don’t lose yourself while building something you care about.
Jociana L
Account Management
7
Answers
Lisbon, Portugal
Updated
Jociana’s Answer
Hey Austin,
That's a very good question that i hope the stundents at @careerVillage can benefit a lot from the answers.
Let's divide this in 2 parts.
1- Being present is important: when you say: " feel like I’m constantly neglecting parts of my life. When I'm in “free time,” I feel like I should be working; when I’m working, I feel like I work too much and need a break. "
- You can address this feeling for all aspects of life, and the best way is trying to be present enjoying the here and now. Do one thing at the time, and try to have a "execution feeling", that comes once you're beingintensionally make an effort to be present and executing, that should be the first goal. The "hurring to finishing" should not be the only outcome possible, the journey is part of the process too.
2- Reassess how many tasks/projects you're trying to execute at the same time. Perhaps is just too many. Try to alternate more complex tasks with low risks tasks and increasing your feeling of completion in a daily basis.
Remember, a feeling can be a body response for something that is not necessarily easy to do, easy to complete nor easy to handle.
Just let me know if that helps.
Exercise emotional check in regurlarly
Reassess the tasks/projects
Re-prioritise tasks/projects
Give focus also on more doable tasks/projects
That's a very good question that i hope the stundents at @careerVillage can benefit a lot from the answers.
Let's divide this in 2 parts.
1- Being present is important: when you say: " feel like I’m constantly neglecting parts of my life. When I'm in “free time,” I feel like I should be working; when I’m working, I feel like I work too much and need a break. "
- You can address this feeling for all aspects of life, and the best way is trying to be present enjoying the here and now. Do one thing at the time, and try to have a "execution feeling", that comes once you're beingintensionally make an effort to be present and executing, that should be the first goal. The "hurring to finishing" should not be the only outcome possible, the journey is part of the process too.
2- Reassess how many tasks/projects you're trying to execute at the same time. Perhaps is just too many. Try to alternate more complex tasks with low risks tasks and increasing your feeling of completion in a daily basis.
Remember, a feeling can be a body response for something that is not necessarily easy to do, easy to complete nor easy to handle.
Just let me know if that helps.
Jociana recommends the following next steps:
Thankyou so much this is very beneficial!
Austin
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Austin,
There is no one professional lifestyle. Some types of jobs require long working hours and/or have long shifts. Some jobs have regular working hours, others have shift work or you'll work when others are off. Some jobs you work every day, others you work long hours a few days in a row followed by a few days off. There is seasonal work, and you can also work part-time if you wish.
Your own needs will also change over time. As a young person, you might prioritize time with friends. As a young family you might prioritize family time. Later in life, you might enjoy working more.
You are smart to consider all your needs, work and personal, before you go into a career, but don't let it be your only consideration. You may have to put a lot of time into your education or early career to have a comfortable life and a career you enjoy later. Do keep balance in mind though.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
There is no one professional lifestyle. Some types of jobs require long working hours and/or have long shifts. Some jobs have regular working hours, others have shift work or you'll work when others are off. Some jobs you work every day, others you work long hours a few days in a row followed by a few days off. There is seasonal work, and you can also work part-time if you wish.
Your own needs will also change over time. As a young person, you might prioritize time with friends. As a young family you might prioritize family time. Later in life, you might enjoy working more.
You are smart to consider all your needs, work and personal, before you go into a career, but don't let it be your only consideration. You may have to put a lot of time into your education or early career to have a comfortable life and a career you enjoy later. Do keep balance in mind though.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Mykisha Hopkins
Realtor
3
Answers
Pikesville, Maryland
Updated
Mykisha’s Answer
Balancing work and life means being intentional with my time and energy. I set boundaries so I can give my best at work without sacrificing the moments that matter most at home. I focus on quality time over perfection, plan my priorities, and give myself grace on the days everything doesn’t get done. Asking for help, resting when needed, and staying present reminds me that balance isn’t about doing it all—it’s about doing what matters most.
Thank you for the advice, Mykisha.
Austin
Tiphani Law
Filmmaker
4
Answers
Tucson, Arizona
Updated
Tiphani’s Answer
First of all understand this, If you look at a clock (any clock) and think, "yes, only one more hour and I get to go home!" Congratulations, you have a job. If you look at a clock (any clock) and think, "oh no, I should have gone home hours ago..." Hopefully, you don't yet have any children because you have a mistress and a child. Oops, I mean a career. Yes, that's right congratulations, you have a career! Your significant other, your child, and your career are three things that are interchangeable with, one exception. Should your significant other or child become deathly ill or unalived, no amount of money in the world can buy you more time with them and/or if you rob them of your time, no amount of money can buy back their love.
Now, aside from that, your career is the reason you get up in the morning and it is the reason you are alive. This is why you are struggling with this question of, am I working too much? How do you separate you from the very thing that gives you a reason for being alive?
I offer you the following;
Are you like Thomas Edison learning the thousandth way that a light bulb doesn't work? Take a break get outside the box for a while and hopefully the answer will hit you like a V-8!
You feel like you're not being appreciated enough? TAKE A BREAK!
You feel like you're not being paid enough, Take a break!
Now, aside from that, your career is the reason you get up in the morning and it is the reason you are alive. This is why you are struggling with this question of, am I working too much? How do you separate you from the very thing that gives you a reason for being alive?
I offer you the following;
Tiphani recommends the following next steps: