Are You Creating Balance in Your Life?

Sometimes in an effort to create a balance between our work lives and our home lives, we add more to the 'home' side of the equation. Often what that means is that we are now overworked in both arenas. That is generally not the goal of finding balance. If you find yourself in this situation, you probably also recognize that the level of stress in your life is also increasing.

Suggesting for helping to balance your work and home lives can be found from a number of resources, but let me make a few suggestions here. One thing to look at is the actual number of hours you spend in 'work related' activity. I have talked to people who calculate they have been spending over 50 hours a week at work. Unless you are actually counting lunch time and daily breaks in that calculation, you are probably at work longer than you thought. That doesn't include any time that you spend at home doing work-related activities, including checking emails, thinking about what's on your agenda for the next day, or what you didn't get done today, etc. That also doesn't include travel or settling in time at work.

You also want to look at what you stress over that is beyond your control. If you have no say in the matter or influence on the outcome, it is probably not productive to spend time thinking/worrying about it. That applies to work and home situations. I do recognize that may be easier said than done, but is well worth the effort to try.

Also, if you are constantly in 'fast forward' mode, it would be good to find ways to shift back. Not only should you include breaks in your activity, you should also plan in some non-productive times - when you don't plan to do anything and you don't do anything, except maybe listen to some soothing music, meditate, etc.

At home, also look at your schedule. If it is filled with running here or there, playing chauffeur for your kids many activities, or always working on some home project, consider what is really important and what really needs to be done by you. It may be that some of that flurry of activity is just "busy ness" and no longer important or meaningful. We will look further at the issue of balance in the next post.


Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change and/or job search, planning for retirement, loss of job, coping with an empty nest, preparing to return to work or school, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in person and via telephone helping to find solutions to problems related to life transitions. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information on her services.

To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.