Juggling Work-Life Balance and Bankruptcy

Hi all, Happy Thursday. I can’t believe it is May. And I officially graduate in less than two weeks!

Welcome to our second week of work-life balance posts. After divorce last week, I would like to focus this week on juggling work-life balance during and after a bankruptcy proceeding.

1.) Maintain a job. Whether you are at your pre-bankruptcy job or starting a new one, you need to maintain employment so that you can rebuild credit and show creditors that you are working towards a stable income. This does not mean running yourself into the ground working 3-4 jobs but do find something that works with the changes of your life and offers you a stream of income.

2.) Establish a budget that you can stick to. Doing this may mean you change your work schedule to maintain an income, but it also may mean that you change your lifestyle so that you do not feel overworked and overwhelmed. Perhaps you are working less as you deal with the bankruptcy so that means less eating out, shopping trips, etc. Or, you may require some added hours, provided that you can handle the workload. Each person is different, but it is best to find a way to work and handle your life changes without taking on more than you can handle.

3.) Avoid unnecessary post-bankruptcy debt. This is similar to the point above. But, doing so will allow you to not feel like you have to take on an extra job or several hours of overtime work. Again, this is about finding a balance in your life and doing things to make sure you are removing, not adding stress. Obviously, buy what you need and what works for you, just consider how much and how often.

4.) Don’t forget to practice self-care. Like my divorce post, I’ll say it again – this is important in all aspects of life, but especially during a bankruptcy proceeding. You could go on a run for work, take a walk on your lunch break, or take a short vacation to get a change of scenery and a renewed mindset. No matter what you do, you have to remember to put yourself first.

I hope you all found this second work-life balance post helpful. While this week highlights another juggling act, it is not one that is impossible to achieve. Remember, it is okay to ask for help, and don’t hesitate to contact our office whenever you have questions or concerns about bankruptcy or anything else related to your legal claim.

Sources: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/after-bankruptcy.asp https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/14/what-experts-say-to-do-before-during-and-after-filing-for-bankruptcy.html

***The thoughts, ideas, and information in this blog do not serve as legal advice of any form. Should you have any questions or legal concerns, please contact our office to set up a free consultation.