My Journey to Work-Life Harmony

By Margaret Joyce of MB & Associates, LLC

Navigating the dance of work and life has been a recurring challenge throughout my professional career. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that it’s all about perspective and adaptability. Let me share my personal journey with you, where I’ve managed to keep my passion for my profession alive while also making room for a fulfilling personal life.

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1. Prioritizing Self-Care

“If my cup is empty, I cannot fill anyone else’s.”
I firmly believe that if my own cup is empty, I cannot fill anyone else’s. This principle reinforces my approach to work-life balance. Each day, no matter how busy I am, I set aside time for self-care. Whether it’s through daily prayer and meditation, even if just for a few minutes, I find that these moments leave me feeling refreshed and clear-minded.

Taking care of my health is another non-negotiable aspect of my life. I never put off those yearly exams, no matter how busy work gets. Additionally, I’m a self-confessed “foodie”, and I’m always striving to eat healthy, balanced meals, even though it can be a struggle at times. Daily exercise is also a key part of my routine, with yoga and biking being my go-to outlets for staying active. For a touch of social fun, I’ve recently joined a pickleball league, which has been quite the enjoyable challenge!

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2. Working Smart, Not Harder

“Adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape has been a tremendous source of personal and professional growth.”
I’ll admit, I’m a bit “old school,” and it took me some time to realize that some of my traditional strengths could be weaknesses in today’s digital world. To stay relevant and thrive, I’ve adopted a philosophy of continuous learning, un-learning, and re-learning. Adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape has been a tremendous source of personal and professional growth.

Nowadays, I rely on tools like Google Drive and maintain color-coded folders to keep myself better organized. However, I confess that it’s still hard for me to part with my beloved manila file folders (LOL).

When it comes to calendar management, I’m religious about it. At the start of each week, I diligently review my calendar to ensure I’m on top of all my commitments. I’ve also created a master calendar to simplify my scheduling.

I’ve developed a habit of responding promptly to emails and phone calls to clear my plate. To maintain focus, I keep my to-do lists short and prioritize just 3-10 things that must be completed each day. My office is filled with post-it notes that serve as reminders and motivators, with my yellow and orange highlighters tracking my task progress. I even schedule breaks around tasks to keep myself sharp.

In terms of mentoring, I’m not shy about asking for help or input when needed. A long-time colleague and I often vent or bounce ideas off each other, holding each other accountable. In the early stages of my career, I actively sought out mentors who profoundly influenced my professional journey. I make a point to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, understanding that it’s a struggle to keep all the balls in the air, but knowing that I’m not alone.

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3. Good Communication

“Always maintain clear communication regarding expectations, timelines, and the entire process.”
When it comes to effective communication, it truly makes life simpler and more successful. Whether it’s in my personal life or career; that extra call or message can make a world of difference.

Reflecting on this past summer, one project shines as a prime example of how excellent team communication can lead to seamless results. The project took place at Byron Center Intermediate School in Byron Center, MI. Architectural Grilles & Sunshades, Inc. and myself, along with our valued customer, Architectural Glass and Metals, maintained clear communication regarding expectations, timelines, and the entire process. The project proceeded without a hitch and was completed well ahead of schedule, leaving all parties involved delighted with the outcome.

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4. Smart Choices on a Daily Basis

“Every small action can lead to significant rewards.”
Celebrating small wins and striving for a 1% improvement in all aspects of my life is a personal mantra. Every small action can lead to significant rewards.
One practical habit I’ve developed is taking a break from my phone. Social media can be a major distraction, so I deliberately take myself “off the grid” for a block of time each day. This helps me regroup and regain focus.

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5. Family Time and Friendships

“My greatest accomplishments in life are my roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.”
While my children are grown, I make a conscious effort to plan gatherings, dinners, vacations, or simply have a phone call with them whenever possible. Spending time with my two granddaughters brings me immeasurable joy. I consider my greatest accomplishment in life to be my roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. In this fast-paced world, I work diligently to preserve these relationships.

I place a high value on authentic friendships. I’ve surrounded myself with like-minded individuals, fostering real and intimate connections. These relationships provide me with a sense of belonging that I couldn’t do without. I’ve come to realize that “having it all” doesn’t necessarily mean “having it all at once.”

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6. Volunteering

“I strongly believe that we all have unique strengths and skills that develop over a lifetime.”
For the past 16 years, I’ve been actively involved with a non-profit organization, dedicating time to their cause on a weekly basis. This commitment is extremely fulfilling and rewarding. Additionally, I volunteer at my church’s food pantry once a month.

I strongly believe that we all have unique strengths and skills that develop over a lifetime. Creating space in my life to do something that brings me meaning has given me a profound sense of purpose.

In conclusion, my journey to work-life balance has been a continuous evolution of priorities, habits, and perspectives. While the path is not always smooth, I’ve learned that by prioritizing self-care, embracing change, making smart daily choices, nurturing relationships, and giving back… it’s possible to achieve a fulfilling and balanced life. This is my story, and I hope that you can draw inspiration from it in your own journey toward work-life harmony.

Margaret and her team come with 42 years of construction industry experience. Their range of quality products will cover all of your glass building envelope needs.

• Pecora Corp.– Glass & Glazing Sealants Silicone- Construction Sealants-Deck Coatings-Vehicular & Pedestrian
• Architectural Grilles & Sunshades, Inc. (AGS, Inc) Sunshades/ Grilles/ Trellis /Light shelves
• Action Bullet Resistant Inc. -Specialists in fabricating bullet resistant windows and doors, blast resistant windows and doors with metal framing systems
• Airways Freight – Land-Air-Sea-Delivering Performance – Airways Freight provides customized logistics services optimized for the unique shipping timeframe requirements of numerous industries. Operators available-24/7/365
• Security glass • Doors • Exterior sliding doors • Windows • Horizontal sliding windows • Interior vertical sliding windows • Transaction windows• Project out (operable) windows • Composite panels • Deal trays • Speak thru’s • Package passers
• IG units• High-performance insulating glass units• Vitro and guardian / tempered / laminated glass
• Commercial windows entire line of window / door products
• Switchable privacy glass/ LED Mirrors- X- Ray Glass
• Digital printing / bird friendly / heat soaked / ceramic frit spandrel, water jet, glass flooring, back painted glass /marker boards/sandblasted/etched glass
• Glass & Glazing Sealants Silicone Construction Sealants Acoustic Fire- Rated and Security Sealants
• Air Vapor/ Water Barrier products Deck Traffic Coatings Concrete Repair Products
• Polysulfide Sealants Water Repellants Silicone Urethane Hybrid Sealants