Work-Life Balance - it sure sounds good, but what exactly is it and how do you get it?  

Work - life balance is the dynamic interaction between ‘work’ and ‘life’. ‘Work’ is those tasks you must do to keep your life functioning - paid or unpaid, inside or outside of the home. And ‘life’ is those things you do for your own personal fulfillment - the things you really enjoy and want to do. ‘Balance’ is the ideal blend of those two areas.    

To move toward life balance, become aware of how you are spending your time. Notice where you are satisfied, where you may be imbalanced and what you would like to change. Try starting each day by asking yourself "what is it that I can do today that will serve my bigger vision"? Surely this is a much different question than asking yourself which task is the easiest to get out of the way first.  

Next create your own vision of a balanced day. How do your desire your ideal day to look while enjoying the perfect combination of ‘work’ and ‘life’? Whatever you envision, keep that a priority. Oftentimes your bigger vision gets lost in your day-to-day runnings of your work & life.  You see the work that is immediately in front of you and assume that taking care of those tasks will move you closer to your vision.

Identify the obstacles that interfere with your quest for balance such as your own thoughts, words and actions. Also look at other obstacles such as other people's opinions, schedules and actions. Check in with yourself monthly to asses what is working for you and what is not. Tip: make it a ritual to let go of 2-3 tasks or negative thoughts or actions that are no longer serving you. Letting go will help will take your mindset to a new level, ensure you are following your desire and lastly, it creates space for new and exciting opportunities to flow in!   

And finally, put it all into ‘action’. Awareness, desire and identifying your obstacles are important, but to move toward balance, you need to take action. A wonderful tool is to ask yourself mindful questions regarding the 4 areas of your life: Health & Wellbeing, Love & relationships, Finance & Business and Spiritual & Personal Growth. Ask, where do I see myself in 6mons (12mons) and How is the best way to get there? What's working and what isn't? Do I need to make adjustments? What opportunities do I need to create? Answering these types of questions will help you get very specific about your choices and your plans.  

Work-life balance is not a destination. It is a dynamic state of awareness and choices. Try these simple tips to help move you toward the life you desire.

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