The Art of Balance - Vayak'hel

I recently realized just how much happens behind the scenes to keep my life afloat. Between working full-time, being a full-time student, family life, learning, and sometimes writing, my schedule is packed. This week, work-life balance felt more like work-life overload. Every moment, I just prayed that none of my responsibilities would spiral out of control because if one did, everything else would come crashing down. At work, I kept operations moving. In school, I pushed through assignments. At home, I was up at 5 AM every day for Shimon. But no matter where I was, it never felt like I was fully present. Everything needed me, so I just had to keep moving.

In Parshas Vayakhel, the Torah teaches about the construction of the Mishkan, a massive project that required intense dedication. But before any work began, Moshe reminded the people about Shabbos. Even holy work couldn’t come at the expense of rest. Pushing ourselves to achieve is important, but knowing when to step back is just as critical. We can’t build anything meaningful, whether it’s a career, an education, or a family, without recognizing the value of balance.

So how do we find that balance? In a recent training, my supervisor shared that we can find balance through prioritization, boundaries, and rest. Prioritization means recognizing what truly needs our energy in each moment and accepting that not everything can be a priority at once. Boundaries mean setting limits, whether it’s turning off work emails after hours or reserving protected time for family. And rest isn’t just about sleep. It’s about creating moments to recharge, whether through reflection, learning, or simply pausing to breathe.

For me, that means making one change this week. I will set a time each night to stop checking work emails so I can be fully present with my family. Success isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about knowing what needs your attention right now. What about you? What’s one small step you can take to create more balance in your own life? Good Shabbos

All the best!

Avroham Y Ross