Achieving the Perfect Work-Life Balance
What does the perfect work-life balance look like for those of us who are busy parents, hard workers, entrepreneurs, and still want to have a few minutes to relax at the end of each day?
From the book, “Living In Balance”, Joel and Michelle Levey give some compelling evidence from research studies over the past 20 years on identifying clues to quality lifestyles most helpful to balance and optimal health. They have identified seven key principles present in all those who live a healthy Work-Life balanced life, and it starts with your Attitude…
Attitude
People who are able to take CHANGE in stride and respond in a balanced way, by making decisions based on their Roles, Values, and Personal Mission, they tend to hold a personally empowered and self-encouraging attitude. Adopting an optimistic attitude, and being appreciative for your life and the things you have are key to discovering Work-Life balance.
Accountability
People who live a more balanced life tend to focus more energy and time on what they CAN do and not what’s outside of their control. They face challenges head on and they do not procrastinate. They are willing to take ownership in the part they play in any given situation, good or bad. Saint Francis of Asissi expressed this balanced awareness in his prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Commitment
Balanced people live and work with a strong and clear sense of purpose. They view themselves as having a meaningful role to fulfill and hold a strong inner belief in its importance. Again, having a personal mission in your life, having a crusade that is uniquely you, gives you the fuel and energy to live your life with passion and enthusiasm. When you know what you’re committed to, you will be better able to set and stick to the priorities of your life, to recognize and honor limits, and to live with integrity.
Supportive Relationships
At the core of our being, we are social creatures who thrive on meaningful, caring, and affirming contact with others. A key part of Work-Life balance is to have supportive networks of close relations and friends. As a matter of fact, it is proven that people who do have these supportive relationships do much better handling life’s stresses than those who feel alone, isolated, and unsupported. Make sure that you are letting your supportive network know how grateful you are of their continued support, showing appreciation and acknowledging their efforts will strengthen your relationships and can lead to a chain reaction(i.e. The Gratitude Effect)!
Service
We all know how good we feel when we do something to help others. To truly be successful and happy in this life, your mission will have something to do with serving and helping others. What you will discover about Work-Life balance is that in serving the needs of others from a selfless place of caring and connectedness, many of your deepest needs can also be fulfilled.
Personal Mastery
I like what Mahatma Gandi once said about this topic “As human beings, our greatness lays not so much in being able to remake the world, as in being able to remake ourselves.” Balance masters choose options in their lives such as exercise and practicing self-renewing and revitalizing skills that prevent the accumulation of stress, and bring a higher degree of self-confidence, self-control, self-acceptance, and self-respect.
Faith
To have a strong spiritual outlook on life is common amongst people who have Work-Life balance. Faith is action, based upon belief, sustained by confidence in God’s Word and His promise to perform it. Faith is proving God’s Word by acting on it. When we spend time in the Bible daily, it gives us a sense of balance and it grounds us in every aspect of our lives.
Seek Guidance
Achieving a work-life balance has been a struggle for people throughout many generations. That’s because it is really hard! These steps are a good start toward achieving a work-life balance, but in order to make this goal a reality, you may need some extra help. That is what I am here for! As a life coach, my goal is to help you succeed in fulfilling your goals and maintaining your ideal work-life balance. richcavaness.com
