Twenty four hours. That’s all you get. Each day contains only so many hours, each week just so many days. Yet the amount you must try to accomplish during those hours can be mind-boggling. Work commitments, family responsibilities, household chores, social engagements, you name it. The list is endless.
You may imagine that it will get easier with time. Once your company is really on its feet, perhaps then things will be less frenetic. Or maybe, just maybe, when your youngest is settled into her freshman dorm, life will settle down. In reality, it just doesn’t work out that way. Although the specific demands of work and life change over the years, they rarely become less intense or time consuming.
And this is a big deal. After all, there are real risks posed by an overly scheduled, chronically demanding, not-enough-hours-in-the-day life. Ultimately, relationships suffer, work performance deteriorates, and parenting skills go down the tubes. The emotional toll can include feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, irritability, and hopelessness.
But do not despair, as you can take a proactive stance to finding balance and even some moments of genuine peace. The following tried-and-true techniques will help:
Prioritize. Not everything is urgent or even necessary. Focus on what’s most important and set other things on the back burner. Consider taking some things off your plate altogether.
Ask for help. Don’t make the mistake of trying to do it all on your own. Hire help where appropriate. Call upon a friend, family member, or colleague. People are often pleased to lend a helping hand. You just have to ask.
Take a break. In 30 minutes or less, you can de-stress, refocus, and re-energize yourself. Why not read a book, take a walk, or ride your bike? You can play with your dog, listen to music, or flip through a magazine. Take a few minutes to work in your garden or simply take a catnap. When time’s up, get back to work. Your improved effectiveness and productivity will more than make up for the few minutes of down time.
Just say no! Believe it or not, you don’t have to agree to every request that comes your way. Both at work and at home, it’s perfectly appropriate, healthy, and necessary to set limits on which tasks and activities you will add to your already full schedule.
Let go of perfectionism. Truth be told, there’s very little in life that has to be done to the point of perfection. Allow for a reasonable margin of error and remember: few people will notice the difference between a job done well and a job done perfectly. Do it well and move on.
Let’s face it. It will never be easy to balance the demands of work, family, and life itself. Make the most of your time by following the above techniques and remember to appreciate the good stuff. Find gratification in your work, enjoy your family and friends, and take pride in your accomplishments. With the proper balance and perspective, life can be more than simply manageable. It can, and really ought to be, rewarding, dynamic and, at times, absolutely magnificent.
Copyright 2009. Liz Bywater, PhD, Bywater Consulting Group. All Rights Reserved.
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