Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! I hope the first week of the new year has already been a pleasant start for you. I don’t believe in New Year Resolutions as I am a believer in the power of now. However, I do believe that a new year always brings about some inspiration and motivation to make some changes for the year ahead. I also usually reflect on the year that just passed and in this instance, I am so thrilled to say, “Hello 2020, here’s to the new decade!”
The past year and a half or so, was not my greatest. For those who have been following my blog or my social media profiles, you would have noticed that I was less active. There was just so much going on in my life that I had very little time for social media and quite honestly, I missed it! But I also made a decision to focus on the things that matter and on areas where I can actually make money. Nothing wrong with that, right?
Well, if you know me, you know that I always believe in #keepingitreal. So, I will confess that my life was pretty much unbalanced, no very unbalanced. As a Libra, we like to have balance in our lives and when we are off balance, we don’t always deal with it properly.
Career Change
After being in HR/Learning and Development for over 20 years of my life, I had an incidental change in my career last year. I moved to Sales. Something I didn’t imagine doing or thought that I was even capable of, but I was glad that circumstances (far less than pleasant) led to this change. All I can say is, I wish I had done this sooner! I am absolutely enjoying it!
With a new role comes new challenges. There are adjustments that need to be made, both at home and at the office. I am not sure how you have been when you had a new job or a new role – but you want to give it your all and and you exert yourself to prove that you can do it. This does come at a price though – the sacrifice of your time. This tips that Libra scale of mine off balance and other areas of my life takes the backseat.
Maintaining Balance
Whilst the financial rewards may leave you smiling, you have to take a step back and ask the following questions: (not just for a new job):
- Am I spending enough time with my family – quality time (not being in the same room with each on electronic devices)
- Am I taking care of myself? (Grooming, appearance)
- Am I keeping in touch with family and friends?
- Am I doing household chores and cooking?
- Am I going the doctor for routine check ups? (Health)
I lost balance

That list can go on but to be quite honest, for most of the things on the list I haven’t done as much as I would have liked to. I was exhausted and emotionally drained – could even see it in the selfies I attempted, which were very few. I was constantly tired and didn’t have “enough time”. I sadly became that wife and mum that I never wanted to be, in many ways.
The year flew by so fast and before I knew it, it was already December. I got to a point where I felt like I was just sleeping at home and not actually living in it. I know I am being a little more harder on myself than I should, but I need to, and after all I’m always preaching about “living life and not merely being alive”.
There were many things that I wanted to do that I didn’t get to, most of them involved being a better mum and wife – doing quality things together. I’m not saying we never did anything – it’s just not the ideal amount that I would have preferred.
I will step up and shape up
So my intention this year is to make some changes and to improve my lifestyle. I do believe that there are a few things that need to change for me in order to improve the quality of our lifestyle. Hubby agrees too and we already started making significant changes.
As an example, we chose to be at home this festive season that passed, in order to do things around the house which were long overdue. Fixing stuff, if you really must know – it involved a few trips to our nearest Builders Warehouse!
Gosh, the worst part about being at home over the festive period is to have your helper also on leave at the same time, cos you don’t get to rest much! Dishes, laundry…etc. But she needs time with her family and so the next time we decide to be home over the festive season, we will get additional help from someone who has been unemployed – like we did in the last week of our leave, so it was a win-win for everyone.
It was not all doom and gloom
2019 was an eye-opener for me. I discovered a whole new world and environment/industry out there , which was oh so different compared to what I was used to. I met so many new people and I learnt so much. I pushed myself to do something I didn’t know I had in me and it was not easy. There were times I felt like just giving up but I didn’t. There were many extremely stressful times that brought me to tears, but I persevered.
Some things in life take time and some changes in life are not as easy to adapt to. But if you really want it and you give yourself and others some time, you can and will achieve whatever your heart desires.
Hello 2020, here’s to the new decade!
Now that I’m settled in my new role and have made the necessary adjustments, I can safely and confidently look forward to lifestyle changes to improve the quality of our lives and to rebuild the relationships with those close to me, who I somewhat didn’t make time for last year.
Sorry, if you are reading this (it means you didn’t give up on me….whohoo!).
This also means that in taking care of me, I do the things I enjoy doing and blogging is one of them – so you can expect a little more activity from me.
Well, here we are and Hello 2020, here’s to the new decade! I’m ready for you! Are YOU ready for ME?

Wishing you all the best in the new year! Congratulations on the career change.
Happy New Year to you as well Michelle! Thank you 😊
Happy new year to you too.
It’s my 1st time on your blog, but reading through it was actually an eye opener for me as well. Yes, it’s true life imbalance has been a challenge for most of us.
Lesson learned today is that one need to 1st admit the imbalance in life and start scrutinizing the gaps of improvement and work on them with significant others of life thus change will result for better lifestyle.
Thank you very much Nicola
Hi Siyabonga
Happy to have you visit and hope it’s not the last time 🙂
Yes indeed, the first step to changing anything, is always to acknowledge the gaps first
Oh, Happy new year to you and your family.
Great having you back. Being off balance is unpleasant. You move away from imbalancing when you notice that there are a few minor changes that can improve it. You have smartly recognised it and I’m glad that you have started with the changes. Congratulations.
Wonderful! All the best!
Thank you Maya and here’s wishing you all the best for this year too 😊
Thank you so much, I’m also glad! Happy to be back and will certainly be more active
Thanks for your continued support, it means a lot to me ❤️