I Like Math

As a kid, I always liked math. It was like a big puzzle to me. I just needed to break the problem down into pieces, work through each piece, and get the answer. And of course, the other great thing about math is there’s always one right answer to the problem. 2+2 always equals 4 whether I’m feeling happy or sad and even if I have a sick child and six inches of water in the basement from a broken pipe.

I still like math. My girls come to me with their calculus homework and although it might take me a little longer to get up to speed, I can usually still help them with the problem.

Work/Life Balance is Not Like Math

Unfortunately for me, achieving a Work/Life Balance is not like a math problem. The answer is different for every person. And to complicate things even further, the answer changes on a day to day basis and can also gradually shift as we enter and exit various life stages.

This can be frustrating if you are looking for “the answer” to achieve a good work/life balance. So, rather than looking for a single answer to this problem, try using the following five techniques:

1 – Set Personal Boundaries

Sometimes life can get out of balance when you do not set personal boundaries in the areas of work, family, and friends. For example, Dave and I both know from personal experience in a fast-paced corporate setting that if people find out you are good at what you do, they’ll ask for more and more of your time and won’t stop asking until you say, “No.”

Set limits in areas like the number of hours you’ll work each week, the amount of work you’ll bring home with you, the number of weekend family commitments you agree to attend, or the amount of time you’ll spend with friends who drain you emotionally rather than uplift you. Setting these personal boundaries creates more space in your life to pursue the goals and activities that matter most to you.

2 – Master Time Management

One thing that is fixed in this problem is the number of hours we each get every day. You can move toward a better work/life balance by doing things like:

• Eliminating tasks that once made sense, but no longer fit with the direction you are taking your life.
• Relaxing your standards in areas that take a lot of time, and may be slowing progress on important goals. Maybe your house won’t be immaculate and maybe you won’t be taking on that complete kitchen remodel any time soon, but you will feel great about the new found time you have to create more balance in your life.
• Delegating tasks that sap your energy and make it harder to focus on what matters most to you.
• At the end of each day, writing down the three most important things you are going to do the next day, not just at work, but also in other areas of your life such as Relationships or Health & Well-Being. Then prioritizing these tasks the next day to give you a great sense of accomplishment and balance across all aspects of your life.
  

3 – Listen to Your Intuition

As you work through various stages of personal development and encounter challenges in life, you may need to listen to your intuition, particularly when you need to regroup. Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to try to “effort” your way through another 20 item “To Do” list. It may be best instead to take the time to go for a walk in the woods, call a friend, or find a sunny spot to curl up with a good book.

Like work/life balance in general, there is no one right answer for the amount of self-care you need. You’ll have periods of cranking through “To Do” lists with ease and other periods when everything seems like a struggle. Listen to your inner voice for guidance on how to approach each day.

4 – Be Grateful

Everyone, no matter how successful, has things in their life that can be better. Adopting a daily practice of gratitude helps you shift your focus toward the wonderful things you already have in your life rather than dwelling on everything that is wrong. This shift in perspective gives you more energy to pursue your goals and your dreams, which in turn leads to a better feeling of balance and happiness across all aspects of your life.

5 – Focus on What You Can Control, Not on What You Can’t

Let’s face it, “stuff” happens. Sometimes, your kids get sick, your hot water heater springs a leak, or your co-worker makes yet another insensitive remark. Sometimes these things happen one at a time and sometimes they can come in bunches.

You’ll have more of a sense of balance and happiness when you are able to accept that things sometimes go wrong despite your best efforts and continue to remain focused on what you can control versus what you cannot.

Your Assignment

Look at the five techniques listed above and think about the work/life balance you’re trying to achieve. For the next 30 days, choose one to three of these techniques to focus upon. Over the coming months, experiment with each of them until you find which ones are the most impactful to you as you continue to create your Custom Built Life!™