Work Life Balance:
9 Quick Tips for Managing Overwhelm
by Molly Gordon, MCC
If you feel that your work life balance is teetering
on the edge, isn't it time to make changes before the problems overwhelm
you?
Here are my secrets for dealing with overwhelm.
1. Everything is perfect, and there
is room for improvement and regaining work life balance. It takes time
and energy to resist reality. The foundation managing overwhelm is to
accept what is and take it from there.
2. Putter. Puttering orients you in
time and space of your life while making mental room for you to notice
what really wants to be top priority.
Tip: Set a time limit on puttering if you are worried that you will lose
the entire working day to it.
3. Take the attitude that you will,
of course, do what is most important, even if you do not yet know what
it is or how you will do it. Be curious about what you don't know how
to do rather than worrying about it.
4. Clean house. When your insides are
churning with anxiety over multiple commitments, create order outside.
Tip: This seems to work best if you clean with a light heart, though I
have worked through some pretty gnarly problems while fiercely scrubbing
the kitchen floor!
5. Use every means available. Make plans
and act spontaneously. Make lists and do what needs to be done whether
or not it is on the list. Managing overwhelm means mingling both direct
and indirect ways of moving forward.
6. Be real. However linear or spontaneous,
ground your choices in your real life and work experience. It doesn't
make sense to simply ignore a deadline or to pretend that a complex piece
of work can be done in 10 minutes.
7. Revise your commitments. Promises
are not made to be broken, but some are made to be revised. Act promptly
to revise commitments that you cannot or will not keep.
8. First things first. Take time for
exercise, prayer, meditation, and simply "defragging" no matter
how busy you are. Doing these things first each day enlivens you and gives
you the resilience and resourcefulness to do your best.
9. Breathe. First, last, and always,
let a rising bubble of anxiety be your reminder to breathe.
Whether or not you own your own business, life is often
overwhelmingly rich. I wish you joy in the dance as you move with order
and disorder, discipline and insight, gracefully maintaining work life
balance.
* * *
 Learn
more about Authentic Promotion - a comprehensive small
business marketing resource that turns marketing and self promotion into
a path of increasing self-awareness, authenticity, and right livelihood.
In particular, the strategies of maintaining your work-life
balance you learn to apply will build the solid foundation for your
authentic prosperity as an entrepreneur.
* * *
Contact an acknowledged expert
on work-life balance issues for small business owners Molly Gordon at:
Shaboom Inc. Life could be a dream…
PO Box 195
Suquamish, WA 98392-0195
mgordon@authenticpromotion.com
As a business coach and small
business marketing consultant, Molly Gordon, MCC, is available in Greater
Seattle Area and internationally |
