Work/Life Balance Survival

I recently taught a work/life balance seminar called I Will Survive! and opened the workshop by admitting to my audience that I was a work-a-holic. I found myself in the same boat as my participants with a hectic work day followed by endless evening activities leaving precious little time for family and fun activities.

When I accepted this seminar gig a few months ago the topic was pre selected for me and I knew this was uncharted territory in my repertoire.  So I began my quest to learn about this elusive concept of work/life balance to see if I could indeed practice what I was about to preach. I am happy to report that it’s not impossible to achieve balance if you are willing to be flexible and let some things go.

I  learned some valuable lessons that I shared giddily with my workshop group and now my goal is to put these into practice more regularly myself.

• Get time on your side. Don’t over plan and be realistic. It’s rare that 50% of any to-do list gets accomplished in a day. Be willing to admit that life happens and that things beyond your control can throw off your schedule.
• Prioritize ruthlessly. Determine what is important and what can wait. Treating everything as a top priority is draining and depleting. Don’t give in to the instant and immediate answer syndrome – buy your time wisely.
• Learn to say no. Saying no to one thing can open up the door to something else. Don’t feel the need to over explain – just practice saying no, thank you.
• Pace yourself. Channel your inner runner and think in terms of a marathon not a sprint. Pacing maximizes effectiveness.
• Organize. Eliminate clutter and chaos and receive the gift of 240-288 hours per year.
• Use technology to make the most of your time. Set boundaries for your personal and professional time. Turn off your cell phone at home.
• Know it won’t always be perfect. Time management isn’t an exact science. Don’t stress out, do what you can and enjoy the time you spend more pleasantly or productively. Be grateful for what goes well and learn from your mistakes.
• Be mindful of your health and wellness. Don’t let your health suffer from stress. Take time to be quiet, meditate, or take a short break. Eat well; avoid fast food and plan for busy times. Exercise; make it a part of your routine and schedule it into your day. Get regular check-ups from your physician. Be sure to get enough sleep – this is your best healing opportunity.
• Play to your strengths. Delegate projects to empower others and stick to doing what you do well.

It takes a conscious effort to leave work at work. Fight the guilt because you have the power to do so. Nurture yourself and take advantage of your options. Make choices that favor you and create the balance YOU want!

I know this isn’t feasible all of the time but I am making a conscious effort to move forward with baby steps. The number one lesson I learned is that balance does not happen all the time. We can’t have it all – all of the time, but we can create an equilibrium that is workable by being willing to change and stay flexible. It takes some mental furniture re-arranging and it won’t happen overnight, but consider creating the balance you want to live by prioritizing what you value. And remember, you should be at the top of your own list!