Chapter 13 It’s summer time – Fancy working off your pool floatie?

The year is whizzing by … summer time has kicked in, the kids are well into summer holidays and the heat has taken over our energies. Days are shorter, sleeves are shorter and tempers are usually shorter. This is when batteries need re-charging and depending on your industry, unless you are within the Maltese hospitality one, you will be lucky enough to re-charge. Timsy’s fuel level is on the low. This is also understandable as the winter routine no longer exists and her daily efficiencies are challenged by the kids free time, more child sitting management and lower energies.

Timsy knows this and is respectful to her own needs and has clear arrangements formalized at the onset of her working experience. Luckily she’s working within an environment that also takes an energy dip in July and August, and hence expectations are aligned. This doesn’t meant that Timsy does perform. Timsy always performs, otherwise it won’t be Timsy. She operates in an environment that allows her to flourish all year round and she has earned the respect to slow down if and when needed, whereas has the integrity to step up if and when needed. She’s an autonomous component within an integrated process of inputs, that works to pull on the same corporate rope at all times. But Timsy has a life too, and a good one. Shes the avatar of the modern day woman, so she’s also a hummingbird, a social butterfly and a buzzing bee! Summer is full of fun, and activities and Timsy lives it up to the full. Make no mistake however, she will never miss her alarm. Se will never walk in hungover and she will never make mistakes at work due to lack of sleep. She plans her fun around her schedule, and ensures it doesn’t interfere with her responsibilities. This is a clever, mature hardworking woman, who has a grip on all aspects of her life. But when she wants to soften her grip, and the pounding heat of August days come calling, she’s the first to bring out her floatie and lie precariously under the sun, or sit at the pool edge and dip her toes. With a large brim hat and a trendy bikini, she’s got her trusted sunscreen and a large beverage in one hand, as well as the latest waterproof smart phone in the other, never switched off.

Which is the essence of working smarter not harder – enjoying a few hours in the sun, a few splashes with friends and loved ones, and keeping on top of things at all times. Timsy knows how to live and is not ashamed to do so. She doesn’t foster insecurities about her ways, her results, the output of the day. She believes in herself, she knows her capabilities and even when she’s at the lower end of the fuel gauge, she knows what to do to perk up. Because that is the essence of a good work life balance and this is the message that TempsinMalta is trying to convey. Work hard and play hard. Be responsible. Don’t miss out. Don’t beat yourself up. Invest in yourself so that you will be the better version of yourself, and keep re-assessing yourself for improvement. Find organisations with a like minded mentality. If you are running a business, align your corporate mentality to your own mentality, and set clear expectations and boundaries. Communicate – never stop communicating and when it’s time to quit the desk, do so, with dignity and grace … but don’t leave your work behind only to find a backlog the next day. Take it to the pool, impress yourself and your boss and keep growing. Afterall school is around the corner, and routine is back to stay …