Welcome to the Fulfillment@Work Newsletter
Published by Joel Garfinkle, Dream Job Coaching
ISSN: 1533-3906

Contents

1. Balancing Work and Play
2. Quotes of the Week
3. Tip of the Week
4. We Recommend

Feature Article
Ask The Coach : "How Can I Balance Work & Play?"

Recently Janet, a 37 year old client of mine who currently works in consulting, asked me:

"Joel, I often find myself lacking balance in my life. I have so much work to do that I don't have time for myself and my family. I'd love to just quit my job and move to an island where I have unlimited time to do whatever I want but that's just not going to happen. How can I have time to get my work done and still have time to play?"

I responded to her:

Your life and work are an integral whole. You are more than just someone who works. You have many roles in your life: you're a friend, family member, community member, significant other, parent and more. You have mental, emotional, spiritual and physical needs. How well are you balancing your roles and your needs? Take time to honor your needs, create calmness in your day and renew your spirit.

You will find that focusing on cultivating more balance in your life can help your work life improve. You will be more relaxed, better able to focus and better able to produce high quality work. Coming from a strong personal foundation will increase your professional abilities and improve your view of your work. Begin by considering your personal and professional roles and how much time you spend each week on each role.

Examples of personal roles are: mother, father, sister, brother, best friend, confidant, daughter, son, mentor. Examples of professional roles are: employee, manager, mentor, team member, leader, specific job title. List each role in your life and for one week, carry around a small notepad and make note of how much time you spend on each role.

Next, review your needs in each area: mental , physical, emotional and spiritual. Examples of mental needs: intellectual stimulation, diversity of thought, learning. Examples of physical needs: food, shelter, water, Exercise. Examples of emotional needs: love, belonging, security. Examples of spiritual needs: meditation, religious/spiritual practice on a regular basis, rituals.

Consider how much time you spend in each area and note which areas you'd like to spend more time on. Next, look at how you can make room in your life to take the time to focus on the needs that have been neglected and the roles you want to spend more time on. What extraneous tasks can be eliminated from your life or delegated to someone else? Schedule time for yourself and treat it like any other appointment.

If you want to learn how to Find Your Dream Job, click here:
http://www.dreamjobcoaching.com/coaching-overview.html

If you want to learn about Executive Coaching, visit:
http://www.GarfinkleExecutiveCoaching.com

~ Joel Garfinkle
Dream Job Coaching:
Live Your Dream Life!

Quotes of the Week

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex over- whelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
~ Mark Twain

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."
~ Leo Tolstoy

"When you're following your energy and doing what you want all the time, the distinction between work and play dissolves."
~ Shakti Gawain

Tip of the Week

Delegate! Look at your professional and your personal lives. What tasks do you do that do not absolutely require your personal attention? Is there someone else who is better at a task than you who can handle it? Is there a family member who can perform a household chore? Is there a professional service (for example, a cleaning service to come in once a month to clean your house or a printing service who can handle your desktop publishing needs). Make a plan to delegate at least 3 tasks this week and see how much more energized you feel.

We Recommend
Take Time For Your Life
by Cheryl Richardson. 1998, Broadway Books.

This book and audiotape series focuses on "extreme self care" - how to take care of yourself first and foremost so that your life is well balanced and you are doing only what you really want to do and love. http://www.cherylrichardson.com/books.html

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Coaching Services

Joel Garfinkle is available for coaching. Send him an email at joel@dreamjobcoach.com or call (510) 339-3201.

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Copyright 1998-2006, Joel Garfinkle, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute DreamsWork so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached.