Posts: 432
11/23/08 2:49 A

I agree with Chanetc. Hi Chanetc. Haven't seen you around the pages lately have you moved. Are you living in your new residence. Are you enjoying your new life. Seems like forever. Most likely hasn't been. I have been busy so times flying. Maybe just for me though. With the silly season approaching time just fly's by people rushing here and rushing there I try not to get to caught up in it. It is very contageous though. Smile. Thanks Anita.

SparkPoints: (57,663)
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Posts: 3,525
11/22/08 1:21 P

Great advice!

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Posts: 600
11/22/08 9:47 A

Work, Family, Self -- The Art of Balance
by Marla Gracia

Do you feel like you are being pulled in multiple directions at the same time? Many of us do. There are so many things competing for our attention and it's a difficult task at best to maintain any kind of balance, but it is possible. Here are a few tips to help you get things into balance.

1. Take care of you. It may sound selfish at first glance, but think about the logic of this concept. When flight attendants give instructions on what to do in the event the oxygen masks are deployed, they instruct you to put your mask on first, and then help your child or seat mate. Keeping all of the plates that you are juggling requires the same thing that you need to be able to take care of others--taking care of you first.

2. Taking care of others, by taking care of you. Taking care of yourself doesn't mean being selfish to the exclusion of others. It can be something as simple as taking 30 minutes after you arrive home from work to decompress and change gears. Having this transition time enables you to shift over from work mode to home mode. You're more present for your family for having taken the time for yourself.

3. Don't try to do it all yourself. One of the mistakes we make is in trying to do it all ourselves. We simply can't do it all. Not one of us is Wonder Woman or Superman. We are humans and when we try to do it all our selves, things get out of balance very quickly. In light of this, either delegate to other members of the family, hire help, or just let the less important things go.

4. Prioritize. In order to maintain balance, it is important to prioritize. Every item wants to be a number one priority, but not every item is. There are some things, like work, that take up a set number of hours in a day. The remaining hours should be split between yourself and your family. Don't let outside distractions take too much time away from self and family, otherwise things will quickly get out of balance.

5. Don't short yourself on sleep. When scheduling the remaining hours, don't short yourself on sleep. Sufficient sleep is crucial to your health and well being. Aim for 8 hours of sleep each night. It will make a huge difference in your ability to function well each day.

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