Achieving a careful balance between work and home life can be a daunting task. I am a busy person. I travel all the time and run a bustling company that takes me between two warehouses. I am a peripatetic traveler sourcing spices and rescuing abused orphans, tending to my animals and empowering future agriculture leaders back at my farm, meditating and traveling across the US to visit wholesale retailers, and always seeking time for more meditation.
Sheesh! Writing snippets of my life seems exhausting, but I love what I do. I am passionate about it, so it's never felt like work.
I am sure this sounds familiar. In today's society, being occupied is a badge of honor. We are obsessed with the obligations of each day and bring unfinished business home to continue working via phone, video, text, and email.
I love to read, and back in 2003 at Singapore's Changi International Airport, I picked up a copy of Dale Carnegie's "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living." It's a quick and fabulous read. One important thing that illuminated my mind-that rarity of a useful book-was compartmentalization.
Compartmentalizing my lifestyle helps me to establish a break from work. Through compartmentalization, I learned to set boundaries. So, for this New Year, here are a few simple steps to bring some balance to your own lifestyle.
Gift of Transcendence No, I am not talking about materialist gifts or a cocktail, though the latter sounds fantastic. Take a gift of "YOU" time: walk around the block, go to the gym, take a yoga class, or meditate. Do something that you want to do. You will feel better. I meditate, and it rejuvenates my mind and brings clarity for my next steps.
Say NO! You know what? It's OK to say NO. If you can't take on a new client when you're already fully booked, or if you're a parent and can't bake cookies for the school bake sale, just say no - in a nice way. Simply prioritize!
Body Maintenance (You, yes, you!) Take care of your body; I cannot stress how important this is. Some of us come up with a million excuses not to tend to ourselves. The most common is a lack of time. Get a massage, an acupuncture session, or a manicure or pedicure. If you're a guy, get a straight razor shave at a barber shop (like a mini-facial for men); the hot towel on your face or the light fragrance of shaving cream can sap the stress and rejuvenate the body.
Though small, these mindful steps to manage your time pay dividends. Unless you take care of yourself and begin to compartmentalize your life, you won't be able to achieve goals or care for your loved ones.
Today, not tomorrow, is when you create your future.
We wish you health, happiness, and peace during this holiday season and throughout the coming year.
