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