Guest post by Bernice Wood
Life is so busy today, and it can be even busier for the work-at-home professional. Many of us feel as if we are walking a thin line and that any moment, we are going to fall.
We are trying to carry everything and everybody along with us on this journey and holding all of that while walking on the line is next to impossible.
The tightrope walker
Think of a tightrope walker. They have incredible balance, which is a good thing. Another thing is that they are prepared to go out and walk on that tightrope.
They aren’t carrying the weight of the world along with them. They only take what they need to get across or things that may be important to their show.
And think back to the last time you watched a tightrope walker. Did they just hop on the line and take off walking? Not usually, especially if they are not close to the ground. As they walk across, they know that their goal is to make it to the other side. They keep their eyes on that destination.
The tightrope of life
When it comes to maintaining our own personal balance, we will need to do the same thing. We have to learn and practice techniques and habits that will help us to maintain our balance.
They will mostly be small, minor adjustments that we need to learn to implement in our daily thinking. They become part of our subconscious thinking patterns.
You may think to yourself, “I’m feeling a little fatigued and woozy headed. Hmm, I need some water and a healthy snack. Good thing I brought my water bottle and a cheese stick with me”.
Or, when you are asked to chair a committee on the PTO, without a moment’s hesitation you respond, “I am honored that you have asked, but based upon my current family commitments, this is not something that I can do.”
Working from home definitely has its benefits, but it also has its challenges. Balancing everything we need to do can be tough! I encourage you to practice checking yourself and seeing if you need to make adjustments.
Bernice is the founder of Living the Balanced Life. The above is an excerpt from her recent e-book, Find Your Balance. Her website is full of useful tips and exercises to help you find and maintain your balance.
Very true! Today’s society is so hectic.. we want to do more, more, more in less, less, less time! Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves and ehmm.. maybe loose ourselves in the process.
You know what’s funny? My wife recently bought a stack of magazines that were printed in 1950. Even back then, there were articles stating the exact same! …and since then, things have only gotten worse.
Sometimes it’s best to just accomplish a little less than usual, I suppose
best wishes from the Netherlands!
That IS funny about the magazines. You’re right about it being OK to accomplish less.
Jurino!
So good to see you, my friend! I have missed you since you have not been blogging anymore!
That is funny that people felt the time pressure in the 50s. I wonder if it was just in comparison to previous conditions and the speed was beginning to be turned up?
Thanks for commenting!
Bernice
As a man, I often think back to the old paradigm of the 50′s. Things seemed so much simpler for our grandparents. Male and Female roles where clearly defined and segregated. From the female’s perspective, I can see how things needed to change. Women are smart and educated and have many ways to contribute to the world besides raising children etc. In 2011, the paradigm has clearly shifted. As couples, we do more in a day than our grandparents did in a week or more. We have more things. We move faster. In 2011, those male/female roles are blurred. To make it all work, men need to pitch in with the house and kids and put in 50% of the work there if their wife is going to be out working. Some men refuse. That’s when balancing for the women becomes critical.
You’re definitely right on all points!