Finding Balance

When your work begins to interfere with your personal life, it is easy to become stressed and lose sight of what is important. There was a time when there were clear boundaries between work and home. These days it is easy to let work take over your personal time with email, texts, and instant messaging. To restore balance, please consider the following ideas:

Leave work at work.  As technology advances, it is up to you to create the separation. Remember you are not married to your work.  It is important to take time for yourself, family, and friends. Whenever possible, turn off or silence your electronics and enjoy your time away from work.

Manage your time wisely. This can be done by creating a daily to-do-list. Complete the tasks with the highest priority first and gradually work your way down the list. To prevent your work issues from running into your personal life, make a to-do-list at the end of the work day with what tasks need to be addressed the next morning.

Nurture yourself. When you take care of yourself, you are more likely to feel better both physically and emotionally. Nurture your body by eating healthy foods, exercise most days of the week, and get adequate sleep. Discover new activities and healthy foods you have not tried. Examples include joining a hiking group, taking a dance or cooking class.

Implementing these suggestions can help you restore balance to your life. You will feel better, be more productive, and more likely to enjoy life to the fullest.