Taking Care of You
We know others who are “burning the candle at both ends,” but recognizing it in ourselves can be a bit more difficult. We excuse our frantic busyness as necessary or normal when it really isn’t.
Do you spend more time working on the weekends than laughing and having fun?
Do you often fail to be your word when it comes to personal commitments, using work as an excuse?
Are you unhappy doing what you are doing?
Are you out of shape physically?
Do you let work take away from participating in activities that you love to do?
Do you do everything yourself?
Do you frequently check your e-mail or voicemail when you are away from the office?
Are you mentally and physically exhausted at the end of your workday?
Do you allow work to dominate everything else in your life?
If you truthfully answered “yes” to two or more of these, you may want to consider the toll this lopsided way of being can take on you and those you love, and what you can do to change it! Being out of balance doesn’t mean you are a bad person; it means you are missing out on the fun of living your life and having relationships with those you love! And the cold hard truth is, every second that you give up fun and being with your family for your job and your business is a second you can’t ever get back. So, what can you do to make your life a priority and ultimately have a more fulfilling professional life too?
Work/Life Balance Key #1: Commitment
You may think that the “concept” of living a happier more fulfilled life sounds good, but can’t imagine where the time to have that much fun and manage your business will come from. However, the truth is that time for both your life and business comes from 1) the increased energy taking care of you provides, 2) from your commitment, and 3) your happier, more can-do attitude! So, give up wondering how you are going to do it, and commit to yourself! Whenever you commit to something you really, really want, the how will always show up.
Work/Life Balance Key #2: Personal Planning and Accountability
If your default way of living is to work, work, work and you want to reverse the downward trend, what has to be put in place in order to change the way you operate? A written personal plan that helps you take care of YOU and a team that you allow to hold you accountable for following your plan!
Work/Life Balance Key #3: Team
Like any person who takes on a commitment to tackle an enormous physical challenge or to move on from their past, you need a team that supports you and holds you accountable for taking care of you. You also need a team that supports you in achieving the goals you set for your business so that you can take time away to take care of yourself.
Work/Life Balance Key #4: Leadership
Keep your eye on the big picture – be the visionary you are paid to be – and allow your team to manage the rest. Become the question and stop being the answer! By asking questions that require your team to create solutions themselves, you are teaching them to think. In the end, this simple shift in who you are being (the question vs. the answer) will allow you to stay focused on the big picture and your team to grow into players who can carry your business forward regardless of where you are or what you are doing.
Your business. Your Life. Creating a balance between the two doesn’t have to be hard! However, you have to make the commitment to writing and following your personal plan. Only you can ask for help and delegate to your team. Only you can give up being the answer. Only you can make the choice to make YOU a priority!
So, as you contemplate your choices, remember, you are the only person who has a say in how your life turns out!