Hello Again!
Happy Monday, this week I wanted to share with you how I manage to have a life outside of my job that requires me to live at work.
Full disclosure, I don't have all of the answer or have it all figured out, but this is how I do it. I hope it helps some of my readers find ways of pursuing their passionate for yachting whilst having a life with they people they love.
I joined the yachting industry at the age of 19, five years ago. what a five years it's been. Not many young people get into a career like this so young, you learn a lot very quickly and do all the stupid things you do at university whilst your working already.
It may sound bizarre, but the actual job is the easy bit. The hard bit is spending long periods of time onboard without time off, and I don't mean weekends in the place you are based. I mean actual holiday time to go home, see friends outside of the people on the dock next to you. Finding time to speak to your family, travelling, meeting up with friends from other parts of your life, having a healthy romantic relationship or any sort of romantic relationship.
Every time I go home the people I love say; " how do you do long distance relationships?" "when will you be home again?" "Do you not want a normal life?" "Do you not get home sick?" " Do you not want to settle?"
My job is fantastic and exciting, I see the world, meet interesting people, do things others will never do:
Swim with Dolphins
See a Pod of Orcas up close
cross the Atlantic Ocean 4 times before turning 21
Go to Nikki beach in St Barths for New Years Eve
All of these things and so much more are possible in this job but known of it means anything unless you have people in your life to share the moments with, to tell the stories to.
I used to think that yachting had to be your whole life in order for you to be successful within it. FALSE.
You have to enjoy something to be successful in it, if you don't enjoy it what's the point. I enjoy my job, therefore I want to share the good moments of my day with the people I love.
A Good Yacht?
Apart of having a life outside of yachting is about finding a good Yacht- Now, I know you're thinking what is a good yacht;
A good holiday package- above industry standard
A scheduled programme for holiday
Understands that crew burn out without time off apart from holiday. (the Odd long weekend goes along way.)
Leadership that support and encourage courses and offer you time to do it on an agreement that works for both the crew member and the yacht.
Appreciates the crew member's worth, pays a wage that reflects their skill set.
You'll think I'm crazy to say it but you can find this on a lot of yacht's!
This makes all of those questions my loved ones ask me easier to answer; it allows me to plan trips home, plan courses, go to the family wedding, take a chance at dating someone not in the yachting industry. (I think dating in the yachting industry may get its own post or two in the future but we'll not delve into that now or this will be one long post.)
To have a life outside of yachting that makes the time away worth I, I find that I have manage my time well, prioritise the things and people that mean the most to me. This can be tricky and it's taken me five years to work it out. If you're reading this thinking I don't remember the last time I spoke to my Mum, my sister, my best friend. PICK UP THE PHONE. They'll be happy you called. Keeping the communication between you and your loved ones often makes the time easier and in ways go faster.
Find time for you!
Have a life off the boat even when you're onboard:
Do some sort of activity after/before work
Listening to a podcast that interests you (NOT BOAT RELATED)
Go for a drink with your crew after work (NO Sh*t boat chat)
Explore the place you're based
Make friends with locals
Mediation or Yoga
Start writing a blog ;)
So, go into this week thinking what can I do for me outside of my job. Join the tennis club down the road or download that mediation app your friends keep telling you about. Some of these things make the long days of a summer season easier, or make the time onboard a little more like what people think is conventional "normal life".
If you work out the definition of "Normal Life" leave in it the comments of this blog, I'd love to know. If you are struggling with detaching yourself from work after 5 o'clock use that time to read more of this blog ;)
Let me know what you'd like to read more of by getting in touch via my instagram @shapedbythesea_.
As always keep smiling, laughing and loving the sea. 🤍
Another enjoyable blog about your yachting career going from strength to strength. Work hard and play hard 😜🤣🤣