Five Observations About Work-life Balance

Here are five observations about work-life balance for career professionals, each followed by four quick tips to reinforce desired behavior:

1) The typical career professional feels driven by external forces to race through the day.  Professionals with work-life balance acknowledge that their own habits are the primary force in achieving work-life balance.
    * forsake acting as if someone is holding a whip over you
    * allow for sufficient adequate drive time
    * prepare your own lunches, if it helps
    * cease blaming others

2) The typical professional sacrifices rest and reflection in the hope of getting more done. Those with work-life balance take time for rest and reflection throughout the day, and accomplish more as a result.
     * draw upon self-calming rituals all day long
    * linger a moment after lunch
    * center yourself on the way to breaks, and even between tasks
    * sleep eight hours a night

3) The typical professional worries that taking periodic breaks might lead to shirking their work. Professionals with work-life balance regard periodic breaks as vital to their high productivity.
     * rise from your seat at least every 20 minutes, which is required for good health
     * stand, walk, or stretch whenever you feel the need
    * refocus your vision – every 20 minutes, look 20 feet out, for 20 seconds
    * drink water and head-off hydration problems

4) The typical professional is resigned to a state of "too much to do, not enough time to do it." Professionals with work-life balance establish clear priorities, support them, and assemble resources to accomplish their objectives.
    * establish life priorities and pursue them daily
    * devise quantified, reachable, and written goals which support your priorities
    * tap the skills of others in your network
    * retain extra help for domestic tasks

5) The typical professional multi-tasks, thinking that this is essential to get more done in less time. Professionals with work-life balance focus on the task at hand and accomplish more in less time.
     * concentrate on the current task and take appropriate breaks at timed intervals
    * secure the quiet space needed to do your best work
    * avoid articles that imply multitasking is okay and even preferable    
    * master the art of doing one thing at a time