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By Barbara Poole, M.S., MCC
I know, I know, you're feeling overwhelmed these days. Join the crowd. It's become the norm, rather than the exception for us busy high achievers. So what's a girl to do when she's tearing her hair out and having one of those "Calgon, take me away days"? Here are some tips for preserving your sanity while you're busy trying to do it all:
- Create your own personalized vision of "the good life". What are the priorities that flow from this? What matters most to you? What are the essentials/nice-to-have's/negotiables in your life?
- Identify what balanced living means for you. Your balance wheel should be a reflection of the priorities that flow from your vision. Where are the consistencies? Where are the gaps?
- Tame the time monster. Develop systems for managing yourself, with respect to time, that work for YOU. Create focus by harnessing the Power of Three in your daily life.
- Leverage what you are brilliant at. Rather than trying to do it all, use your gifts and talents to maximum advantage. Hire, delegate, or let go of the rest.
- Eliminate your energy drains. What are you tolerating? What are you putting up with that gets in your way, sucks up your energy, and dilutes your passion?
- Build reserves. Develop reserves of the resources you need to keep you sane: time, money, love, friends, and the practical "stuff" of life.
- Forge strong boundaries. Protect your priorities by learning to say "no" when you need to; build boundaries without building walls.
- Strengthen your community. Cultivate and tend to your network of friends, confidantes, colleagues, neighbors and advisors who can lend a hand when you need it. Remember to reciprocate and give as much as you can. It will always come back to you.
- Nurture yourself. Take time for the self-care practices and activities that keep you whole and nourish your body, mind and spirit.
- Play in a way that gets you away! Take big and little vacations that balance the sides of yourself that you use when you are "working".
©Barbara Poole, Success Builders, Inc., 2001
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