Is your Work Life Balance weighing you down?

It's easy to say we should be balancing our work & life but it's another matter entirely to achieve that successful equilibrium.

Kofodimos calls it a "spiraling cycle of imbalance" where the harder you try to juggle everything, the more balls you are likely to drop.

Paula Caproni writes about how she tried to achieve that perfect state of nirvana where all elements were controlled and time management was maximised ( she even went as far as having her hair cut & wearing slip on shoes to cut down on wasted time). In keeping tight control she suddenly realised that she had killed the spontaneity and the "magic moments"of chance meetings and new friendships beacuse she hadn't been able to factor them in.

It's a tough one to keep everyone and everything in control (not easy words for an OCD freak like me to utter) but here are some ways I have found help achieve a more zen like calm

1. Accept that you cannot make everything perfect all of the time.

2. Be easier on yourself and don't give yourself a hard time if you don't get everything achieved that you want. As Carlson said "Rule #1: Don't Sweat The Small Stuff. Rule #2: It's all Small Stuff".

3. Decide what's important to you - not only long term but short term - you may want to focus more on one area in one week so accept that & factor it in during the following weeks.

4. Appreciate what you have - Rhonda Byrne in "The Secret" talks about as you wake & before you go to sleep to think about all the things you are grateful for. See our Book Review for how much impact this book has had here at CAS. http://bit.ly/j79kVn

5. Remember that holidays are not a debt that have to be repaid. You deserve a holiday & work hard so don't then feel you have to put in twice as many hours on your return to make up the fact you had a break.

6. Look after yourself and be healthy - nutriotional input for the body and brain makes a massive difference to your ability to cope mentally.

7. Set boundaries and let others know what they are; you don't have to please all of the people all of the time so it's ok to say NO and explain why to others why you are saying it.

8. Ask for help: it's not a sign of weakness to look to others for help & support even if it is only soundboarding. Use all resources at your disposal.

9. Track your time investment - whether work, colleagues or home - if you don't measure it you can't manage it. Filling in your diary of what you have achieved in the day is not only an effeicient method of time management but is also a useful reflective and analytical tool.

10. Ask yourself what you would say on your death bed - it's never ging to be "I wish I'd spent more time at work". Don't wait for an emotional or physical alarm call - make the effort NOW to take control of where you spend your life.

and remember - "IF IT'S GOT TO BE, IT'S UP TO ME"!