Walking The Tightrope

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Many of us, particularly busy leaders, struggle to achieve and maintain proper balance in our lives. We seek to succeed at work while simultaneously being there for our families and loved ones. We have a strong sense of community and want to give back to those around us while also ensuring that we attend to our emotional, spiritual, and health-related needs on a regular basis.

Despite our best intentions, however, these many aims oftentimes come into direct conflict with one another. We simply cannot allot as much time as we would like to each of these areas in a manner that is fully satisfying. And we need to recognize this well before we become consumed by stress and/or guilt.

As this simply illustrates, too many folks have confused priorities or, at the least, lose out on the means in order to enjoy the ends. We all know that life is about more than money, perks, and notoriety. We have to be able to live, not just work. And for too many of us, this crucial balance gets lost in the rat race.

Normally people with a strong work-life balance:

1.    Lead purposeful lives. Balanced people give serious thought to how they want to live their lives. They confer with those who are most important to them and develop and then commit to a road map that will help them get there.

2.    Adjust as needed. Like most things in life, well-conceived plans can easily go sideways if we let them. People who stay on track continually ponder and dialogue about what is working or not, and adjust as needed.

3.    Carve out time. It is one thing to say that things outside of work are important to you. It is another to make the time for those things. Purposeful people do not wait to see what time is left over after work. They make a point of planning and booking time off to spend outside of work and powerfully guard this time.

4.    Develop personal definitions of success. People who have a strong work-life balance have a clear vision of what success looks and feels like. They use that to pursue their goals with greater purpose and discipline.

5.    Turn off distractions. Today, more than ever, it is so easy to become distracted. Our phones and other technology sidetrack us often from what is important and what needs to get done. People with clear priorities are able to turn off their devices to focus and achieve their goals. They prioritize the need for quality uninterrupted time to do the things that they enjoy.

6.    Tap into their spiritual sides. Often lost in the workplace shuffle is our need for spiritual connectivity. Religion, meditation, or other spiritual outlets offer an element of fulfillment and purpose that keep us going and recharge our souls.

7.    Engage in relaxing and rejuvenating activities. Balanced people know the importance of sharpening the saw. They use music, yoga, physical activity, hobbies, or other interests that allow them to get away from the pressures of everyday life to regenerate themselves.

8.    Hold short- and long-term views. Some people have a clear sense of what a balanced life looks like but feel a need to put such thinking on hold for the short term as they get through school or get their business off of the ground. Instead, set timeframes for when you expect to transition into a more balanced lifestyle and then hold yourself accountable to that timeframe, adjusting as needed.

It is critical that we take the time to identify and prioritize our core values and aspirations. Often this is best achieved through the creation of a personal mission statement, which helps you to spell out what is most important to you and pinpoint what you want to achieve in each realm. A coach, guide, or mentor can be helpful here in asking the hard questions that drill down into what is truly critical and a priority.

Once you arrive at some answers, you can compare them to your present reality. Keep tabs on how you presently use your time and compare that data with what is truly important to you. Use this insight to make adjustments to your schedule and in how you prioritize your daily activities.

Not only will this process offer you a fresh new focus and a revitalized sense of purpose, but it will also strengthen your self-identity. Self-identity emerges from the way that you see yourself. What makes you tick? What is most important to you and how does that impact your decision making? Knowing who you are at your core can be extremely empowering and allow you to forge ahead despite the inevitable challenges that arise.

You may be tempted to tuck your values list away for personal reference. However, you should share it with those that they impact most. Let them know what you consider most when making decisions. Giving others around you a window into how you value and budget your time can help them better understand your actions and appreciate your perspective.

Another important consideration for leaders is to be careful to avoid burnout. Burnout can occur quickly when leaders fail to maintain proper balance and act in a manner that is unhealthy and unsustainable. Take good care of yourself by eating well, getting enough sleep, and taking vacation breaks from the daily grind. 

We all struggle to make proper use of our time and energy. We want to be as successful, as helpful, and as accomplished as possible in every important domain. But we simply cannot do everything, and it is critical to find ways to manage the ongoing conflict that exists between competing domains in a way that helps us to feel most fulfilled. To make proper choices, we must root ourselves in positive values and establish clear guidelines that govern our choices and actions.
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