Managing your career and the demands of life is something we are all challenged with. Unfortunately there isn’t a simple formula that can be applied to everyone in all situations. Obviously, how well “balanced” your life and career is depends a lot on what career you have and what demands or responsibilities your personal life requires of you. One size does not fit all in this dilemma. We each have unique situations.

With that said, here are some suggestions for managing your career and living a balanced life:

First of all, I suggest that you live your values or core beliefs. Your values are who you are, what you stand for, what you care about. If you are uncertain what these core beliefs are for you, you may want to do some work either on your own or with a coach to define them for yourself. They are important because when you are living in alignment with your values, you have a sense of “rightness” about your life even though it may be harried or stressful and demanding. This “rightness” can serve to carry you through busy, difficult times.

There’s a long list of things we are all “suppose” to do to take care of what I call the “Three Essentials” – body, mind and spirit. We expect to take care of everything from flossing our teeth daily to keeping our minds active and finding spiritually meaningful outlets. But realistically, trying to be balanced in all of these areas all of the time can lead to more stress and more long “to do” lists. It may not be possible to care for them all of the time if you have a demanding job or a combination of a job and a family. So what do you do about this part of living the “balanced life”?

I say do what you can do within reason. Maybe you exercise more briefly than you would or less frequently than if you had more time. Perhaps you exercise two days a week instead of every day – but you still make the effort to exercise. Maybe you find ways to stimulate your mind while feeding your spirit at the same time. Maybe you listen to a book on CD while you commute or exercise. Look for ways to incorporate the “Three Essentials” into your life without making them a burden. Get creative with how you feed your body, mind and spirit – it doesn’t have to be conventional as long as it nurtures you!

Set limits. This is important. Learn to say “no” sometimes. This may mean saying “no” to fun activities as well as those you don’t really want to do. Determine where you want your boundaries to be for your health, how much sleep you need, what you commit to as a parent, what you take on as an employee (on the rare occasions that you have a choice!), even how much partying you choose to participate in. Be more aware of what you need to feed the “Three Essentials” and set some limits for yourself that support those needs.

Lastly, follow through on all of the above. Ah yes, this is the most difficult one! It’s easy to “talk” about what you are going to do – quite another story to actually carry it forward. One way to help yourself with this is to tell a friend or a partner about your plans and ask them to hold you accountable for what you commit to. It’s amazing what a dose of accountability will do to keep you motivated!

So, try these steps to start out:

1. Live your core beliefs or values.
2. Take care of your body, mind and spirit (in ways that work for you and don’t cause you further stress).
3. Get creative with how you incorporate taking care of the “Three Essentials.”
4. Set limits. Say “no” sometimes. It’s liberating!
5. Follow-through on these commitments to yourself.

© Susan Harrington MA Ed http://www.susanharrington.com