| I recently came through a week of very hard | | | | categories, but they do tend to blend |
| work, chaotic energy and long hours. As I | | | | together. Time together as a family is so |
| reviewed my goals and progress for the week, | | | | important, and it is something that is sadly |
| I realized that I couldn't remember much of | | | | beginning to happen less and less in our |
| anything that happened during that week. It | | | | hurried society. Here are some ways to help |
| was all a muddled blur in my mind, one day | | | | that. Make it a priority to have dinner |
| blending into the next. I do believe that | | | | together every single night. No distractions |
| hard work is good for us. However, if we | | | | or television blaring in the background. Have |
| don't also include periods of rest, quiet | | | | a "family day" or "family night" where you |
| contemplation and recreation, what are we | | | | spend one evening or perhaps one weekend day |
| working so hard for? We must also make time | | | | together doing something fun as a family - |
| to enjoy the fruits of our labor. | | | | and this doesn't include camping out around |
| | | | the television. Go to the park and have a |
| They say "a woman's work is never done", but | | | | picnic, visit flea markets or garage sales, |
| this holds true for men also. Work in general | | | | or during the winter you can build a snowman |
| is never done - which is a good thing really, | | | | or go sledding or ice skating. Time spent |
| because if there is no more work to be done, | | | | together having fun is the most important |
| there is no more progress to be made. But | | | | thing. This goes for you and your spouse |
| constant work without play makes for a very | | | | also. Have a weekly "date night" where the |
| dull existence. The key is balance. It is a | | | | two of you spend time alone together, without |
| difficult thing to achieve for many, myself | | | | the kids, and without distraction. |
| included. For most of my life I have either | | | | Relationships require maintenance to keep |
| been going 100 miles an hour, or stalled | | | | them strong. Make it romantic and rekindle |
| completely. | | | | the flame that once brought you together. :-) |
| | | | |
| So how do we create balance in our lives? I | | | | Work/Business - are you surprised I put this |
| believe there are four key areas of our lives | | | | last? Most people today put work first and |
| that require (yes, require!) daily attention. | | | | forget the rest, but doing so creates a sense |
| By the way, they are listed in order of | | | | of constant duty and drudgery. Work is |
| importance. | | | | important, but it's not the most important |
| | | | thing in life. If you make the other three |
| God/Spirituality - taking time to center | | | | categories your first priorities, your time |
| yourself and commune with God (whatever your | | | | spent working will be much more productive. |
| interpretation of God may be), is crucial. | | | | You won't feel so burned out and stressed |
| Prayer, meditation and quiet contemplation | | | | out, and you will accomplish alot more than |
| are so important to our overall health. It | | | | you would otherwise. |
| doesn't matter what religion you practice, it | | | | |
| matters only that you make time to honor your | | | | One of the most important things we can do to |
| spiritual self and your connection to the | | | | become more balanced in our lives is master |
| Divine, every single day. First thing in the | | | | the art of Mindfulness. It means being fully |
| morning is best for most people, since it can | | | | present in every moment, giving our full |
| help you adopt a positive mindset for your | | | | attention to every task. This can be |
| day. Or you may prefer the late evening hour | | | | difficult for many of us, because as we are |
| before bedtime, to help you de-stress from | | | | performing one task, our mind is already |
| your day. You don't have to spend hours on | | | | moving ahead to the next task, and the one |
| this, 30 to 60 minutes is plenty. | | | | after that. This means that at any given |
| | | | time, we are performing multiple tasks at the |
| Self - each of us needs time every day to | | | | same time. One we are performing with our |
| work on our physical and emotional wellness. | | | | hands, and the others in our mind. What a way |
| This is time we can use for exercise, | | | | to feel exhausted and overwhelmed. |
| journaling and self-exploration, and hobbies. | | | | |
| Again, it doesn't have to be massive amounts | | | | Try focusing only on one task at a time, and |
| of time, but at least some time for exercise | | | | I think you'll be surprised at how much more |
| and self-care is necessary. Women especially | | | | you can get done, and with less fatigue at |
| are good at taking care of everyone else and | | | | the end of the day. It takes practice though. |
| neglecting themselves. Don't do that! You | | | | At first you may need to consistently bring |
| cannot fully give to someone else when you | | | | your attention back to the task at hand. Your |
| are empty yourself. Make yourself a priority, | | | | mind may want to keep wandering, as it is |
| and make time to care properly for yourself, | | | | used to doing. That's okay, simply bring it |
| physically and emotionally. Trust me, you | | | | gently back to what you are doing right now, |
| will be a much happier person and be able to | | | | and continue on. With practice, you will be |
| give that much more to those you love. | | | | able to master this and feel much more |
| | | | centered and calm throughout your days. |
| Spouse/Family - This is actually two | | | | |