As moms, we can often become so over-involved in our daily agendas and activities that we fail to remember to complete the straightforward actions that sustain our success. The challenge of harmonizing our personal and professional lives in today’s fast-paced world is a considerable trial we are often faced with. It is very easy to become overwhelmed by the strain of managing family, career, technology, and money. Oftentimes it seems there are not enough minutes in a day to complete all the activities we need, want, or have to do. Thus our work/life balance becomes strained.
One of the most pressing problems is not being able to balance professional and personal lives. Balancing these two aspects is about creating the correct alternatives regarding the various facets of our dynamic lives and prioritizing their significance. Career, whether you are working inside or outside of the home, is an essential part of life. Being a good parent, friend, and spouse is just as important, as is taking time for you. When you are trying to coordinate all these aspects of your life at the same time, some things will become more neglected as other aspects demand more focus.
Fine-tune your schedule to accommodate the burden personal and professional matters will remain being a challenge, it is not completely unattainable. Having been in the faced-paced world of the US military many years, I have learned that in order for it all to work, I have to occasionally place myself at the top of my priorities list without feeling guilty. Honestly, I find that managing multiple priorities at the same time can be quite motivating. However, I immediately re-evaluate my priorities if I start to feel a considerable disproportion among my personal and professional life.
If you are sensing that you do not have adequate time complete all the activities we need, want, or have to do, then you should take intentional actions to produce the lifestyle you desire. Below is a list of prerequisites required to sustain a positive work/life balance:
1. Realize that you cannot do it all alone.
2. Do not over-commit yourself; learn to say “no.”
3. Get entertainment frequently go to a movie, the theater, sporting event or other recreational activities.
4. Remember to regularly spend quality time with family and friends.
6. Take a vacation or stay-cation annually and disconnect or limited the use your email and cell phone.
7. Take time for yourself by scheduling specific time during the day for exercise and relaxation.
8. Set aside a little time each night to de-compress before going to sleep.
Decide what is important to you in your life and set priorities to reflect this. Decrease activities that are low on your priority list. Prioritizing helps you to free up some time. Having this time gives you the ability to spend your time and energy on people and tasks that are the most important to you. Doing so might help you in feeling fulfilled and accomplished than ever before.
