Balancing Life for Success

Balancing life is something every working adult struggles with. It's very easy to spend a too much time working because making money is the key to survival. At least that's how it appears on the surface. Without spending some time working on yourself, you are sure to break down from stress or other physical disabilities and possibly throw a wrench into your own machine!

By following these tips you will build a foundation of strength and effectiveness that will allow you realize your full potential both at work and at home.

Work Smart
Prioritize your work and don't worry about the minor issues that should fall by the wayside. Work hard, but when you don't have time to get it all done (and you never will) then log out or clock out. It's time to go home! After all, do you want to get to the end of your life and realize you've shelved too many dreams? Set personal priorities and focus on those. Choose your overtime wisely and try to avoid feeling guilty for not working overtime. It's the boss's job to get the most out of his workers, and you are no exception. Sometimes you have to push back!

Know Your Limits
Try to listen to what your body is telling you. Are you having physical ailments but are just too busy to go to the doctor? If so, think about how ridiculous that is. Without your health you are no good to anyone, especially yourself. Keep regular appointments with your dentist and family doctor

Exercise
You've heard it a million times. We all know exercise is good for losing weight and gaining body tone, but it goes much deeper than that. Exercise is good for digestion and your mental health. It helps when the "fight or flight" instinct is evoked due to stressful situations and helps to cleanse the chemicals released in your body during those moments.

Keep A Diet Diary
A diary of your diet can be a mirror to your daily health. People tend to lie to themselves about how often they eat and exercise. Having a diet diary will show you exactly what you are eating and how much exercising you are really getting and can help point out what foods or activities are bad for you. It is also helpful to have this daily health history when you have to visit a doctor.

Hobbies
Having healthy hobbies goes hand in hand with point #1, working smart. Without managing your work life, you'll never have enough time for hobbies. A hobby doesn't have to include something as hard as rock climbing or as expensive as antique collecting. Hobbies can include tuning in to your favorite sports team each day on the radio while quietly relaxing with a beverage, starting an E-Bay store and selling some of your junk, or even teaching yourself how to cook. And, of course, your hobby can be your house. Promise yourself you will work on one aspect of your house each day, delving into the "how to's" and "DIY" solutions that give your mind a little vacation time and add to the value of your home at the same time! Anything you can include with a family member will only enhance the experience.

Meditation
Meditation can be beneficial for relaxation and peace of mind. Even if you think meditation is silly, think of it as just sitting in silence and relaxing for a short period of time. Silence can be beautiful! For those of you who are short on time, there are several techniques that require only ten minutes of your time. One of my favorites is as follows. Find a chair in a quiet room in a place where you can peek at a clock every few minutes. Find a comfortable position, allowing your head to "float" and relax. Think of a word that you can repeat over and over, something short. I frequently use the word "ohm", as it is a short and powerful word. Repeat the word out loud at a medium pace. After one minute, allow the word to fade in volume until you are not speaking it anymore, but continue to say the word in your head. Allow the word to take on any form you wish and allow your mind to drift. Don't be hard on yourself if other thoughts intrude. Push them gently away and continue repeating your word until the ten minutes is up. Bring yourself slowly out of your meditative state, stretching and shaking yourself awake. At the very least you will feel relaxed and ready for the rest of the day. At best you'll be surprisingly energized!

The truest words ever spoken, "life is short," should be cut out and pasted above your computer monitor, posted as a sign in your workshop or taped to your mirror so you can see them every day. No need to spend your life on everyone else's all the time!

Take control of your work life, eliminate stress and use that extra time to take care of yourself. Only a stronger, more balanced you can realize your full potential!