Balancing Career and Personal Life

Is your life so busy you have to schedule appointments for time with your family weeks ahead? Are you are always playing "catch up" at work? Do you feel as if you are constantly behind the eight ball?

We have become so busy as a society that many of us view life as a balancing act. Keeping life on an even keel is mandatory if we want to feel great, accomplish much, spend time with family and friends and have fun. Unfortunately, the persons we most often forget to take care of are ourselves. We are so busy taking care of our families and employees, keeping up with friends and neighbors and serving within our communities that we run out of time before we choose to do something for ourselves. My advice: Put first things first, and make yourself your first priority. It's a tight rope we walk these days. Sometimes one misstep means we fall off and get hurt, maybe seriously. The facts and suggestions in this article may provide you with the information and steps you could take to give yourself a little slack in the tightrope you are walking. Only you can choose to create a plan and create a safety net for yourself. Suggested steps include: Put your life values in order. If you know your goals and priorities, you are less likely to be overwhelmed by the demands of daily living. Learn to like yourself. You are a unique individual. Respect your abilities. Recognize your needs. Forgive your errors. Learn to connect. We want deeper meaning and purpose to our lives, a broader perspective than we have on our own, and a connection to the oneness of life. Take time to connect every day in whatever way works best for each of us. Develop meaningful relationships. Find others that you can talk with honestly and in a personal way. Be willing to give and take. To have a friend you must be a friend. Learn to accept what you cannot change. Some circumstances are beyond our control. Accept realistic expectations and start to work on them, with help if necessary. Define the tasks at hand. Determine what you really need to accomplish (refer back to your values) and the best way to proceed. Work on only one task at a time. When anxiety creeps in, ask yourself if you are doing your most important task. If so, take a deep, relaxing breath and continue. If not, switch to your highest priority task. Work out to work off tensions. Get some kind of regular aerobic exercise. Exercise helps rid you of the tension and strain of daily living. It also keeps your immune system pumping. Eat wisely. Reduce the amount of caffeine, sugar, salt and fat in your diet. Increase the amount of water you drink and the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables you eat (strive for five servings a day). Develop an escape. A hobby or pastime that is strictly for your own enjoyment and one you can engage in regularly. Maybe even one you share with a friend. Take time for fun. Do what you enjoy. Treat fun time as important, and do not let anything interfere with it - especially something like worrying about what you are not doing. Learn to relax. Try deep breathing, muscle relaxation, meditation, etc. If necessary, read a book, listen to a tape or attend a class to really learn how to relax. Practice being assertive. The very act of asserting yourself, speaking up to say how you feel, can help you feel better. Talk about your troubles. At times, confiding worries to a special friend may relieve your stress. Often, another person can help you see your situation from a new perspective, or help find a solution. Listen to your feelings. Our feelings are our connection to our wiser, eternal self. When we feel good, we are creating what we want in life. When we feel bad, we are miscreating. When bad feelings arise, focus on what you desire rather than what you have and do not want or want and do not have. Make one change at a time. Do not try to make dramatic changes overnight. Be kind to yourself. Take it easy. I encourage you to get your priorities straight, adopt a sense of internal control and create a life management plan of action. Minor changes bring about major results. It's your life. And it's your choice how to live it - walking a tightrope every day or enjoying every day. Nancy J. Riesz is a speaker, teacher, author and coach. She works with professionals and their technical organizations to improve people connections.