A Balanced Life, LLC

A Road Map for Your Life

Like any other trip, we need a road map as we navigate through the journey of our life. Before the time of GPS or phone apps, I would often contact AAA and have them send me a TripTik before a road trip. They would ask me what was my ultimate destination. In addition, they would also ask me if there were any cities or points of interests that I wanted to see while on my trip. AAA did a great job of plotting out my road trip. They would send me maps of the states I would be traveling through and my designated route would be highlighted. All I had to do was get in the car and follow their directions.

We recently entered into a new year. Now is the time to stop and map out where we want to go and what we want to accomplish this year. Now is also the time to stop and plan how we are going to get our desired results. Having a resolution or an idea of what we want to accomplish is not good enough. We owe it to ourselves to stop and really plan how we are going to accomplish out goals and our dreams. This is what living intentionally is all about.

Maintaining Balance

It is hard to believe that we are in the middle of January in the year 2010. The new year brought in new expectations, dreams and intentions.  We are now reaching the point in the new year when some start to revert back to old habits.  However, now more than every it is time to stay focused and keep our New Year intentions in the front of our mind.  Having a sense of balance in our lives can assist us in achieving our new intentions.  There are several things we can keep in mind to assist us in feeling balanced every day.  Try to remember to:  

• Be realistic with your time.  Don't over schedule yourself.  Allot a few more minutes to complete a task then you think it requires.  Avoid calendar congestion by writing your schedule on a calendar or keep it in your Smartphone.  Consult it before scheduling commitments.

• Prepare the night before.  To help you get back in the saddle, it's a good idea to get ready the night before.  This doesn't just mean picking our your clothes and packing the kids lunches.  It can also include looking at your calendar and to-do list for the next day.  Consider all your obligations; not just what you have going on in the office.  Taking a glance at you commitments can help put you in the right mindset for the morning.

• Carefully evaluate all of your commitments.  It's great to be the one who volunteers for an extra project at work or sign up to make 3 dozen cupcakes for your child's class party.  However, before you raise your hand it is important to make sure that it's the right time and the right commitment.  You don't have to be everything to everybody.

• All the planning the world can't prevent the unexpected from happening.  It is critical for you to be flexible.  Being able to adapt to the unexpected is crucial when planning for the days, weeks and months ahead.

Keeping these things in mind will allow you to design a life that is balanced.  Remember, maintaining a sense of work life balance is a daily LIFESTYLE not just a New Year's Resolution. You can keep your momentum going!

Calendar Congestion

There are many time management experts that teach us the importance of scheduling ourselves and keeping some sort of calendar system.  Personally I agree that scheduling our appointments and daily tasks is a great idea.  Writing down our daily commitments is a great mechanism for making sure we keep track of everything we have to do.

I also believe that writing things down on our calendar allows us to examine if we are being unrealistic with our time.  Looking at our daily, monthly and yearly calendars can let us see if our calendars are congested.  Congested calendars are those calendars that have obligations and tasks penciled in from the time someone gets up until the time they go to bed.  A great visual clue is to look for white space on your calendar.  If we don't have any then chances are our calendar is congested.

There are several strategies that can be used to prevent or alleviate calendar congestion.  Some tips to consider when cleaning up are calendars are:

• Evaluate each and every appointment and commitment. Are our obligations in alignment with what is really important or is it filled with commitments that we feel pressured to accept?
• Do the commitments on our calendar reflect obligations from all aspects of our lives? Or are our obligations lopsided?
• Are we being unrealistic with the amount of time we are allotting for certain tasks or obligations?
• Are there areas where we can simplify and slow down?

Looking at our schedule on paper can be a visual reminder for us to decide if our calendar is congested or not.  Maintaining a congestion free calendar is a great tool for living a balanced life.

One Step at a Time

Realizing that our lives need balance is actually the easy part of establishing a balanced lifestyle. The hard work begins when we start to put steps into place to actually achieve a life of balance.  One thing that is important for us to remember is that we shouldn't try to implement too many changes to our unbalanced lifestyles at once.  Instead focus on achieveing the personal goals  you developed for yourself in regards to balance. Practice ahieving these goals each day. 

It is so critical for us to be patient with ourselves when we are striving for a balanced lifestyle.  Come up with your balance plan and stick to it. There may be days when you don't feel as balanced as others.  However, don't let this discourage you.  Keep pressing forward.

Remember that balance may look and feel different at different times in your life.  There may be times when you are busier in office than others.  There also may be times when your personal life may be busier.  That's ok.  Make adjustments to your schedule as needed. 

Life is such a gift.  We were not intended to live a life that if frazzled, stressed and overwhelmed.  It is important that we live and manage our lives instead of our life managing us. Living a balanced life is a process and a journey.  Enjoy each and every step you take.

Think Before Saying Yes

How many times have you been at work, at your child's school or at church when someone nominates you to do something?  I can think of countless time when I have been volunteered for something.  I can also think of countless times when I have been in these situations and no one volunteers.  So I then feel some sort of obligation and I raise my hand and say,"I'll do it." 

In both of these scenarios I can remember feeling honored because someone has confidence in my abilities or that I was the one who stepped up to the plate when no one else would.  But I can also recall instances when I didn't feel that same level of excitement when the time came to fulfill my obligation.

Sometimes I would regret saying yes.  Other things would come up and I would loose focus.  And then there were other times when I just didn't want to do it.  However, I would push through these feelings of regret and do what I agreed to do. I really didn't enjoy this internal struggle. Now, I think before I say yes.

Crash and Burn

Living life at a non-stop pace can easily become normal.  It is not unheard of a person who has to juggle multiple obligations at home, work, at church, and in our community. However, if you try to keep the pace of the Energizer Bunny you can easily crash and burn.

Burnout is a medical condition that does not discriminate. Burnout doesn't care if you are a mother, student, if you work or are a stay at home mom  or how much money you have in the bank. It can effect you both physcically and emotionally. All of us are susceptible to burnout if we don't take precaution. 

Burnout happens when your life is off kilter and not balanced for an extended period of time.  The signals of burnout can be very similar to stress.  It is very important to recognize if you are exhibiting any of the symptoms of having burnout and make any necessary modifications.  For some, this may mean consulting with a medical professional. 

If you have suffered burnout, it is important to make sure that you make modifications to prevent you from have reoccurring relapses.  There are three simple tips that can help:

1. Using effective time management skills
2. Say No.  Be honest if you aren't able to fulfill a request. 
3. Ask for help.  You don't have to be everything by yourself.  Asking for help is not a signal of weakness. 

I'm sure you can identify periods in your life when you suffered from burnout. When you think of these periods in your life, you can also recall how this was not a pleasant experience.  A key to living a balanced life is prevention. You have to live your lives so that you positively and proactively manage your daily obligations and responsibilities.  Doing this will prevent us you from crashing and burning.

I Will Do It Tomorrow

Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week ~ Spanish Proverb

As I young child I had the Sweet Pickles books series by Jacqueline Reinach.  My favorite book in this series was Goose Goofs Off.  This was a delightful tale of a Goose and how she was determined to take a day off.  Throughout the book, Goose was confronted with different things that required her attention.  However, her motto was I'll do it tomorrow.  She didn't get her TV fixed, she didn't go to the mailbox, she wouldn't even mop her floor because she was going to do everything tomorrow. Her friends had to frequently remind her that she said the same thing yesterday and the day before.  Her tomorrow never came.

A few years back, I was moving and came across my old copy of Goose Goofs Off.  As I started to thumb through the pages of the book, I realized that  I had become Goose.  Tomorrow was my answer to everything.  That's what I told my family, friends, co-workers and myself.  I was going to do it tomorrow.  Not only that, but I would say it with such conviction.  Whatever I had to deal with, I was going to do it tomorrow.  It wasn't long before those around me reminded me too that I had said that the day before.

Running Late

Living a life out of balance can become a habit.  A life that lacks focus and direction will soon become unbalanced.  When this repeatedly happens this unbalance actually becomes the norm.  It can begin to feel comfortable.  One major area that tends to quickly become unbalanced is your daily schedule.

Those who live a unbalanced tend to always run late. I lived my life for a long time in a state of tardiness.  People began to expect me to arrive 5 to 15 minutes late. I was late for work, for church, for doctor's appointments, etc.  If I was supposed to be somewhere, you could guarantee that I was going to be late. Rushing from Point A to Point B was just how I lived.   

I had subconsciously began to justify my habitual tardiness.  I had convinced myself that I was always late because I always had too much to do.  But then I realized that I have control over my schedule.  I finally decided that I was tired of always having to drive like a maniac to get somewhere.  I got tired of the undue stress.  This stress was completely unnecessary.

Vacation Madness

So the kids are out of school and it's time to hit the road.   Summer marks the official start of the vacation season and it's time for fun.  One of my favorite vacation destinations is Disney World.  I absolutely love everything about the House of Mouse.

My daughter and I visit this magical world about every two years.  When it's time to get ready for Disney, I plan extensively.  I do an extreme amount of research on what are the best days to go to which parks, I map out what's the best time of day to ride Space Mountain and plan where we are going to eat each meal. Each day on our vacation is usually planned out from the time we get up until the time we go back to the hotel and pass out. Some would call this a little extreme.  However, I called it getting the most bang for my buck.

Tools of the Trade

It is important that you have the proper tools and systems in place when trying to achieve a life of balance. Not having the right tools to help you achieve balance is like a going to a mechanic for an oil change and he doesn't have any oil to put in your car.  Pointless.

Deciding on what tools to use and what systems to put in place is a very individual decision. What works for someone else may or may not work for you. We all know that there are tons of gadgets and cool looking toys that were designed to keep us organized.  Some of these can be quite expensive.  However, before investing any money make sure that that product you are selecting is going to fit your needs. It is a waste of money to purchase something that you are not going to continue using. 

Listed below are a few things you may want to consider when purchasing a new organizational system:

• Size. How big or how small of a calendar to you want to carry? Do you want the calendar to be set up with a daily, weekly or monthly overview?  Or do you require a combination?
• Storage Space. Do you need pockets to keep important information handy?
• Style. Do you need a three ring binder style planner or can it be bound?
• Backing Up Information. If you are using an electronic device such as a PDA or your telephone you have to remember to back up the data in case the device stops working or is lost.

I have found that a combination of an electronic system and a planner helps me keep balanced. I schedule in time each week for me to make sure that both my phone and planner are in sync.  This process probably takes me 30 to 45 minutes each week.  But the benefits are worth it. I rather take a little extra time and give up the yellow sticky method I used for years. Besides, there are times when I have my cell phone with me and not my calendar.  This allows me the chance to double check my schedule before I over book myself. 

Please remember that you may have to try several different methods before you find the right tool for you.  That's ok. You want to ensure that you find something that you are going to stick with.  Also, find something that expresses your personality. There are all kinds of products that are quirky, colorful and personalized.  Have fun with it.