Worksite Health

How can I balance my work and home lives?

11/01/2006

Question:

My husband and I both work outside the home. Lately I have been feeling overwhelmed with trying to manage the daily apspects of my life. I feel like I`m missing out on the non-work things that are more important. Do you have any suggestions for making the change from obsessed, overworked mom to an interested, caring mom? Help!

Answer:

While the concept of a well-balanced life is a goal that many people strive for, attaining it is at least as difficult, if not more difficult, than ever. Most of us are bombarded on all fronts – home, work, family, friends, etc. We long for a more relaxed pace in our lives, yet struggle to attain that aspiration.

Here are a few ideas to consider. Maybe one or two will "speak" to you. Find the suggestion that seems to fit best for now knowing that new alternatives may be necessary in the future.

Listen to yourself and learn what fills you: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Cultivate an "I’m worth it" attitude.

Set aside time each day for you.

Accentuate the positive.

Invest time and energy in important relationships.

Seek things that are fun to do and do them regularly.

Stretch and exercises five days a week.

Enjoy some quiet time on a daily basis – for rest, relaxation and inner reflection.

Eat healthy, balanced meals for even energy throughout the day.

Find a stress management technique that works well for you and practice it regularly. Maybe yoga, imagery, deep breathing, positive visualizations, etc. will work for you!

Create a list of what’s important in your life. Spend more time on the most important items and less time on the least important items.

Relationships not cultivated soon wither. They thrive on contact and mutual sharing and support. A spirit undernourished turns cynical and dies.

For your whole person to remain vital, you will have to take responsibility for nourishing all aspects of your health – body, mind, and spirit. Doing so will help you form a balancing "bridge" between work and home. Taking small steps on a daily basis will lead you towards more relaxation and greater life fulfillment.

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Response by:

Elizabeth R. Click, ND, RN, CLE
Assistant Professor
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Case Western Reserve University