Work\Life Balance- it's all the rage but is it realistic?

Everyone keeps saying we have to find the work life balance. I love the idea but is it just another thing that is making us feel inadequate unable to live up to the expectation? There are not enough hours in the day to find true balance. Unless you can figure out how to work for 6 hours a day a true balance is unrealistic.

So what’s the solution?

First, lets figure out what is taking up all of your time. Sit down with a pen and paper and write down all you have to do in a week. This may take a couple try’s. Next to each thing write down how long it takes. Example Work include commute etc. Shopping, laundry, menu planning, cooking, gym and on and on and on. Now look at all the time you are spending and take a moment and see if there are any areas that can be delegated?

Can someone else do these things or are there some things that maybe just maybe can be done more efficiently or even less often? Example I make a menu for the month and do most of the prep work for all my meals once a week. I finally learned to delegate some of the household chores. Can you schedule a few appointments in one day to get them all over rather than a couple hours out of several days?

Time block personal time.

I cannot (I wanted to go all caps there) say it loud enough that you need to time book PERSONAL time! Even if it is only 30 minutes a day you need it to be the best you possible. What makes you feel refreshed, strong, Focused and centered? Gym, mediation, a walk, a cup of tea and a book? Hot bath, journaling, praying? It’s time to block it that time EACH and EVERY day. Now this may require getting up a little earlier or finding time in the evening but it will be so worth it.

Designate Family time

Even though we don’t have as much of it as we want it is often Quality over Quantity. Our families are very busy and finding time can be challenging but it is more important to have this quality time. Whether it is a dinner without any technology or a game night it needs to be on everyone’s schedule and then talk talk talk, it’s what’s missing. Knowing where our kids are living in their own minds is truly important. Find balance with your kids.

Dating your spouse

This is the relationship that suffers the most when we get busy. We think there is always time. We talk about what needs to be done, who needs to be picked up, dropped off, what’s for dinner, and on and on and on. But we lose touch with each other. No this is your most important relationship. It needs to be solid top 2! You need to sit down each week and find time! We have a weekly date night (by the way we are empty nesters together most days) but we have to just to put all of our household, job and everyday life aside and connect!

Finally

So in closing here’s the thing….you will never find complete balance but you can have more good quality time with a little planning. Stop trying for perfection and go for substance. Try delegating, time blocking and scheduling.

I hope this makes you feel better about not finding perfection and know you are doing the best you possibly can.

Live a Life you Love

Paris