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Work and Family: Life in the Balance
For many people, juggling the multiple responsibilities of work and family life is a major source of stress. There just never seems to be enough time to get it all done. To make matters worse, we sacrifice sleep, relaxation and recreation to get our work done. What's wrong with this picture? Trying to slow the pace of a lifestyle that feels out of control is no simple matter. When life starts to feel overwhelming, it pays to take some time to rethink your priorities, evaluate how you are using your time and be sure that at least the most important things are getting done. Some of the situations we find ourselves in may take a great deal of time and energy to sort out and simplify. Other times a few simple changes can at least give us room to take a few deep breaths, smell the flowers and slow down enough to enjoy the precious moments that make up a lifetime. Your No. 1 priority is your health We take our health for granted, and forget that daily habits can enhance or erode our good health over the years. When there is too much to do in too little time, it is especially important to get enough sleep, eat well and exercise daily. And yet, during busy times, we tend to neglect our health. Remind yourself that to accomplish what needs to get done at work and at home, you must keep yourself in tip-top shape. You will make better decisions at work and at home, and have more energy for the people who are most important in your life. |
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Review your goals and priorities Your life has many important parts, including health, family, work, spiritual growth and recreation. Achieving balance means including activities that help you reach the most important goals in all parts of your life. Because work goals tend to be well-defined for most people, it is easy to let these goals take priority over family goals and self-care. You need to be your own boss when it comes to family goals. Schedule activities that will help you achieve these goals, and remember that these activities are just as important as your work activities. You may want to schedule family outings, family time for projects at home, and time with your spouse or partner. Set realistic expectations Are your goals realistic? Can you fit everything in? If you are like most people, then probably not. Which goals and activities are the most important? Focus on making time for these. Are some of your expectations causing you stress because they are unachievable in your present situation? Can you change the situation? If not, you may need to adjust your expectations to bring them closer to reality. What is a "good worker?" What is a "good parent?" What is a "good job?" What can you change to make your life simpler and less stressful? Get people to help you with what needs to get done. |
Live your life
Sometimes feelings of stress come from our own busy thoughts, thoughts that
keep us so preoccupied that, when we are doing enjoyable things, we are not
even there. Practice bringing mindful awareness to the present moment. Pay
attention to what you are doing and the people you are with. Mindfulness
helps reduce feelings of stress and slows busy, unproductive thoughts.
Mindfulness also helps you enjoy special moments and think more clearly.
This is your life -- enjoy it as much as possible! Laugh, have fun and count
your blessings.
Set helpful routines and rituals
Routines relieve stress, and rituals give life meaning. Routines reduce the
need to make decisions when your mind is overcrowded. Autopilot can be great
when it comes to everyone chipping in to clean up after dinner, planning
meals or getting out the door in the morning.
Pleasant routines can take on the quality of a ritual. After-dinner family
activities, bedtime stories and Saturday afternoon family hikes bring
families together. Children especially need predictability and consistency,
so our busy lives don't spill over and create hurried children.
Barbara A. Brehm, Ed.D., is professor of exercise and sport studies at Smith
College, Northampton, Mass.
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Good nutrition for children ages six to 12 is quite similar to good nutrition for adults: Children need to eat a variety of foods from different food categories.
Weight loss occurs when your body must draw on its energy reserves; hopefully, its abundant stores of body fat. Most nutritionists agree that people lose weight on low-carbohydrate diets because they eat fewer calories than usual when their food choices are so limited.