Home
>
Time Management
>
Living on Purpose: Achieving Balance Between Work And the Rest of Your Life

Living on Purpose: Achieving Balance Between Work And the Rest of Your Life

Many of us get so caught up in day-to-day pressures that we often find ourselves reacting to external demands rather than designing lives that really fulfill us. While in today's economic environment we face many stresses in our jobs, it is still possible to create balance between our work and personal lives. The following are some ideas to help you do just that:

Determine What is Important to You ? When we don't know what is important to us, it is very easy to let external demands determine our actions. The result can be that we feel our lives have lost their purpose. When we know what really matters to us (i.e., career, family, friends, health), these critical areas become the barometer against which our decisions are made. For instance, if you feel that being with your family is important, you might decide to cut back on some of your professional meetings so you can spend more time at home.

Define Acceptable Performance Levels ? Contrary to what many of us super achievers believe, not everything we do needs to be done perfectly. Sometimes 'okay' is good enough. Choose those things where excellence is the only acceptable standard and then decide which tasks can be less than perfect. When I attend certain meetings, my associates laugh when they see my binder with its massive amounts of paper sticking out from all ends. I shove whatever pertains to the meeting into the binder so I can pull it out when I need it. Could I be more organized? Absolutely, but the extra effort is not worth it to me. However, when it comes to getting my programs ready, I am meticulously organized. I write notes for everything I need and check off each item after I place it in the appropriate folder. Before I leave for an event, I triple-check to be sure I have everything. When it comes to my programs, I only accept excellent performance. With other things, I am willing to cut myself some slack.

Combine Activities ? Is it possible to combine activities so you are able to enjoy two or more important aspects of your life at the same time? My best friend is a business owner. Each week we meet for lunch and discuss ways to make our businesses more successful. On Saturdays, my husband and I go to the gym together. We enjoy each other's company while we get our bodies into shape. Combining activities saves time and allows you to meet multiple goals with reduced stress.

Meditate and Exercise Regularly ? You may think that you cannot possibly fit meditation and exercise into your already overcrowded schedule. However, taking time to meditate and exercise on a regular basis can do much to reduce your stress and improve your productivity. Studies have proven that people who exercise regularly are usually more creative than those that don't move much. This means that their ability to find creative solutions to their challenges is enhanced. They also have the energy to do the work that is required. Meditation also increases energy and creativity and reduces stress levels. The few minutes it takes to engage in these activities will pay big dividends.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate ? Think about all of the things you do. Which of those activities can be delegated to others? Are there team members who would gain important skills by taking on some of the tasks that you are now doing? If so, give them the opportunity to learn by delegating the tasks to them. Can your family members help you with certain activities? I used to make every dish for our holiday meals. Now other people help create the dinner by bringing something that they have cooked. We get to sample a variety of foods and I have the time and energy to enjoy my guests.

Learn to Say No ? Just because someone asks you to do something, does not mean you have to say yes. I realize this is more difficult to do in your job or business, but we can often assert our power of no in our personal lives. If someone asks you to do something, think about whether or not you can really handle the extra pressure at this time. If you can and you want to do it, then say yes. If it will be the straw that breaks the camel's back, then answer with a guilt-free no. Do those things that are important to you and bring joy into your life.

So as you continually try to balance the various aspects of your life, refer to these ideas. They can help you gain greater control and allow you to feel more fulfilled in whatever you are doing.

About The Author

Della Menechella is a speaker, author, and trainer who inspires people to achieve greater success from the inside out. She is a contributing author to Thriving in the Midst of Change and the author of the videotape The Twelve Commandments of Goal Setting. She can be reached at della@dellamenechella.com. Subscribe to free Peak Performance Pointers e-zine - send blank e-mail to della@dellamenechella.com.

quick home cleaning Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

Kurt the CyberGuy offers some easy fixes if you're struggling with Windows 11. PC users have reported slow performance, Wi-Fi problems and other issues.

In response to infostealer activity increasing 500% in a year and harvesting 1.7 billion user credentials, the CyberGuy offers four ways to stay safe from infostealer malware.

Looking Glass has developed a 27-inch light-field display that allows you to see digital objects in three dimensions without headsets or glasses.

A CCTV video purportedly originating from a Chinese factory shows a robot appearing to lash out at two men in an unexplained incident.

After years of delays, travelers must now show a REAL ID, a valid passport or another federally approved ID to travel. May 7, 2025, is the deadline.

Driverless tractor-trailers are already traveling on Texas roads, raising questions about safety, reliability and the future of trucking.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals that a new AirPlay bug lets hackers take over Apple devices via Wi-Fi with no clicks needed.

This Mother's Day, gift Mom tech gadgets that simplify life, connect and show love. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers some ideas.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reports that Tesla owners are facing threats as hackers weaponize leaked data. Are you next?

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how a paper pill bottle could revolutionize pharmacy packaging and cut plastic waste drastically.

The private information of about 4 million people was exposed after a major data breach involving VeriSource Services, a Texas-based HR firm.

Archer Aviation and United Airlines have teamed up to offer a more environmentally friendly way to skip New York City's traffic jams and reach your destination more quickly.

Healthcare company data breaches have leaked personal data of millions of people in recent years, and the CyberGuy offers ways to keep your information safe.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents

Police around the world are adding robots powered by artificial intelligence to their departments, and Thailand has emerged as one of the key players.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains five cleanup hacks — a few smart automations and tools — to declutter your technology and keep things running smoothly.

Kurt the CyberGuy breaks down whether it’s better to remove your personal information from the web yourself or use a data removal service.

Google’s scam detection features, powered by artificial intelligence, are a significant step forward in safeguarding Android users from fraud.

The FBI has issued a warning that scammers are impersonating doctors, police and banks using spoofed numbers as "smishing" texts surge nationwide.

Communities with unreliable internet service stand to gain after Amazon's Project Kuiper launched its first full batch of satellites into orbit April 28.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says unsubscribing from spam might actually backfire. Learn when to avoid it and stop junk effectively.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how the first nonstop beating heart transplant, called zero ischemic time, at Taiwan hospital changes surgery.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: FBI warns of "time-traveling" hackers.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about a soft, vine-like robot called SPROUT that aids safe survivor rescues in collapsed buildings.

Health insurance giant Blue Shield of California confirmed it had been sharing private health data of 4.7 million users with Google for three years without even realizing it.

Living on Purpose: Achieving Balance Between Work And the Rest of Your Life

Time Management