Join the club. According to a survey announced last week, 89 percent
of Americans regard work/life balance issues to be a problem. More
than half - some 54 percent - say it's a significant problem!
The survey, conducted by StrategyOne, also confirmed what most of
us already know: the recession is a major cause of this problem.
Almost one of four say their work/life balance has gotten worse since
the economic downturn.
Are companies helping their employees deal with this growing concern?
Hardly.
Some 43 percent of workers say their employers aren't doing enough.
So it's time to take matters into your own hands.
If you want to achieve a reasonable balance in your life, it's up
to you to take action.
In the article below, I've listed six ways to help you get started.
Want to Achieve Balance?
Make an Appointment With Yourself.
Recently a client
confessed to me, "I find myself working 60 or more hours each
week. I have no time or energy for anything other than work. I don't
see my family, I don't have time for friends or hobbies and I feel
completely overwhelmed. I want more time and fulfillment in my life.
I would rather divide my time between work, nature, people in my life
and travel as opposed to oozing out meager samplings of these between
work."
This is a common
concern. People are working more hours than ever. They make a good
income and are able to afford more material possessions, but at the
expense of their happiness and satisfaction.
As the client
above stated, she's unhappy, exhausted and creatively starved.
What can be done?
Here are six tips:
Begin by
simplifying your life. Look at all of the things that you tolerate
that only serve to limit you and drain your energy. Make a goal
to systematically eliminate them all from your life.
Make an
appointment with yourself. This week make an appointment by
marking your calendar and keeping the appointment with yourself
as you would an appointment with your most important client.
Examine
what you want from your life and what is standing in your way.
Look at what unwanted energy drains you need to remove from your
life to make this happen. Do you need to pay off credit cards? Do
you need to simplify your living situation? Can you incorporate
a more flexible schedule so that you can have more time for fulfillment?
Can you take a time management or organizing seminar so that you
use your time more effectively? Brainstorm and see what comes to
mind. Make a plan with concrete action steps with deadlines and
follow through.
Get support.
Talk to friends and colleagues to see if they are going through
the same situation and help each other brainstorm solutions. Enlist
the support of a coach to help you set and achieve practical goals
and regain balance.
Celebrate
even the small triumphs of your life. We often become so absorbed
in accomplishing tasks or to-do lists that we overlook opportunities
to experience joy and satisfaction.
Notice where
you focus your attention. Carlos Castaneda once said, "The
trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable
or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same."
Take this quote to heart. Write is down and tape it to your computer
screen or bathroom mirror.
Then, every morning,
ask yourself: "What am I going to emphasize today?"
Why be miserable,
when you can make yourself strong!
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