Balancing Act: Embracing Professional Dedication while Savoring the Joys of Life – Insights from a Dedicated Colleague

Young girls who are new to the workplace may often encounter various challenges, such as how to quickly adapt to their jobs and how to balance work and life effectively.

In this issue, our invited interview guest is Candice from Wuhan Bizarre Sports Company.

Cindy, acclaimed for her "great sense of humor" and being recognized as a "very, very promising" newcomer in the workplace, how does she manage to balance her work and personal life?

Today, let's have a chat about it.

Today, our topic is time management and achieving a balance between work and life. The first question: In your position as a foreign trade merchandiser at Beizan, how would you describe the intensity of your workload?

In terms of workload intensity, how should I put it? I used to work in a similar position before, but it was at a factory, and I lived very close to it. Whenever there was an issue, I could address it anytime and anywhere. Now, since I live on my own outside, I can't just go to the company whenever I want. Therefore, I have to make the most of all working hours. When I'm at the company, I try to utilize my time as efficiently as possible to make it more productive.

Improving efficiency is crucial.

Yes, improving efficiency is key. Essentially, my daily routine starts with arriving at the office in the morning, having breakfast, and then diving into emails. After reviewing emails, I prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. For instance, if there are urgent orders that need follow-up, I address those first. Once that's done, I move on to handling shipping matters or processing urgent documents.

Additionally, there's the aspect of factories, which operate on specific timeframes. For instance, some factories may only allow color samples to be printed in the afternoon. If I receive an order yesterday afternoon or this morning, I need to prepare all the necessary documents in the morning and deliver them to the factory. This way, they can obtain a color sample on the same day.

Handling tasks with tight deadlines involves trying to get ahead of them and completing them in advance. In the afternoon, I focus on tasks that are less urgent. This includes managing various aspects in the system, such as updating purchase and export information, collecting receipts, and following up on outstanding payments. Once you get used to the flow of these tasks, the intensity becomes more manageable.

Does handling numerous clients simultaneously make you feel overwhelmed? Because, judging from the weekly meetings, the number of clients you need to coordinate with seems quite staggering.

Dealing with a large number of clients requires quick thinking and swift problem-solving. After getting accustomed to this intensity, it's manageable. I haven't found that the workload significantly affects my emotions or personal life.

Really impressive! Moreover, your response not only addressed how you view the intensity of work but also shared a set of working methodologies that can be valuable for learning and reference. Now, let's talk about life. During the previous interview with Rachel, she shared some interesting stories about you. It was mentioned that you are the type who would travel to Xi'an for leisure during the weekends. Is this indeed a reality?

Well, I lean towards being an enthusiast for spontaneous trips. Although not exactly like a special forces operative, I and my friends share a common love for traveling. Having a great travel companion is crucial for these adventures.

Yes, indeed.

We often do things like planning, for example, I enjoy creating detailed itineraries. She looks at the parts that might be tiring and we modify or remove them. Or, when we arrive at the destination, we might decide to adjust the schedule. The entire trip ends up not being too rushed or hurried, and we manage to experience everything we want to see and do.

Wow, this is really fantastic!

Haha, the so-called "comfortable special forces"! Generally, for these kinds of trips, we plan to have several outings within the province or city each year. Previously, when I was away from home, it was more convenient to go to the seaside, and I would go every year. Now that I'm back in Wuhan, I can only explore nearby places like Luoyang in Henan, Xi'an, Shanghai, and Nanjing. These are all just a few hours away by high-speed train. We prefer leaving in the evening and returning on Sunday night because we can make the most of our time that way.

Hahaha, yes! Doing so maximizes the use of our leisure time to the fullest!

Exactly, exactly. But the truth is, the itinerary isn't that tiring—really not that tiring. However, if you have a travel companion who isn't up to the task, it can turn into quite a burden.

So the next question I might ask is, in case you encounter a situation with an exceptionally heavy workload, such as the current peak season, does it bring you significant stress?

An increase in workload is a very normal occurrence. For instance, during my trip to Xi'an, there was a rush order related to a sports event, and the communication with the client wasn't as smooth at that time. The order became extremely urgent. Throughout the journey to Xi'an, I was continuously tracking and handling this matter. It was indeed quite urgent. I was working while traveling, but it didn't affect my mood for the trip.

Wow, I think this ability is truly an outstanding personal charm, something not everyone can achieve.

Well, anyway, the thing is, even if I'm in a bad mood, it's just for a short while. I don't let my emotions linger for too long. When something goes wrong, I quickly think about solutions and try to resolve the issue. Once the problem is solved, there's usually less room for negative emotions.

So, do you think achieving a balance between work and life involves not just managing time but also maintaining a balanced mindset? Can you derive unique pleasures from work that you might not find in other aspects of life?

Actually, I really enjoy having connections and interactions with the outside world. Customers sometimes bring up topics that I wouldn't usually encounter, especially since many of them come from different countries. When you delve into understanding a customer, you're also learning about the customs and practices of various nations. It's quite fascinating. Another aspect is the sense of achievement that comes from work, such as dealing with urgent matters and successfully resolving them. Achieving things you wouldn't have dared to imagine before brings a strong sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Do you have any plans to travel abroad in the future?

My perspective on this is actually — there's still so much to explore domestically, considering the vastness of China.

Of course, the last question: Would you be willing to share some personal preferences for maintaining physical and mental well-being or daily habits? This could include things like favorite books, music, exercise routines, and so on.

As for books, I have a lot of them, but my collection leans towards literature and youth fiction, not necessarily tragic literature. Perhaps something like what people call online novels, for example, "There's a Little Convenience Store at the Cloud Edge."

Like Zhang Jiajia and others, many consider them to be internet writers, not necessarily renowned authors. However, I find their writing very relaxing. After spending a lot of time with electronic devices and software, when you're tired of playing, reading those books can draw you in. You feel like the world inside the book is very pure.

I also really like music. I have a lot of speakers at home, ranging from big to small. Whether I'm alone at home or with friends, I can turn on the music, and we can all do our own things while enjoying the atmosphere.

That sounds like a wonderful atmosphere.

Flowers are another thing. I feel that fresh flowers can really add a lot of color to one's life. My friends sometimes send me flowers, and when I go grocery shopping, if I see some fresh flowers, I'll buy a bouquet.

If I were to ask you to recommend your favorite book, which one would you recommend?

I would recommend a book that some people might find a bit dramatic in its title, but I really like it. It's the book "我亦飘零久" (I Have Wandered Long) by Du Mu Canoe. It's a novel about travel, not just a simple travelogue, but rather a collection of memories from her travels to various places, including India.

Okay, thank you very much for your sharing today.