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As we begin the year 2002, many of us may have made some New Year's resolutions. Hopefully, we included some goals to enhancing our wellness. The following information provides some tips for balancing competing priorities at work and at home.

Work and Family: Life in the Balance
by Barbara A. Brehm, Ed.D. (Fitness Management, September 2001)

For many people, juggling the multiple responsibilities of work and family life is a major source of stress. There just never seems to be enough time to get it all done. To make matters worse, we sacrifice sleep, relaxation and recreation to get our work done. What's wrong with this picture?

Trying to slow the pace of a lifestyle that feels out of control is no simple matter. When life starts to feel overwhelming, it pays to take some time to rethink priorities, evaluate how we are using our time and be sure that at least the most important things are getting done. Some of the situations we find ourselves in may take a great deal of time and energy to sort out and simplify. Other times a few simple changes can at least give us room to take a few deep breaths, smell the flowers and slow down enough to enjoy the precious moments that make up a lifetime.

Your No. 1 priority is your health
We take our health for granted, and forget that daily habits can enhance or erode our good health over the years. When there is too much to do in too little time, it is especially important to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise daily. And yet, during busy times, we tend to neglect our health. Remember, to accomplish what needs to get done at work and at home, we must keep ourselves in shape. We will make better decisions at work and at home, and have more energy for the people who are most important in our lives.

Review your goals and priorities
Life has many important parts, including health, family, spiritual growth, and recreation. Achieving balance means including activities that help us reach the most important goals in all parts of life. Because work goals tend to be well-defined for most people, it is easy to let these goals take priority over family goals and self-care.
We need to take charge when it comes to family goals. Schedule activities that will help achieve these goals, and remember that these activities are just as important as work activities. You may want to schedule family outings, family time for projects at home, and time with your spouse or partner.

Set realistic expectations in? If you are like most people, then probably not. Which goals and activities are the most important? Focus on making time for these.
Are some of your expectations causing you stress because they are unachievable in your present situation? Can you change the situation? If not, you may need to adjust your expectations to bring them closer to reality. What is a "good worker"? What is a "good parent"? What is a "good job"? What can you change to make your life simpler and less stressful? Get people to help you with what needs to get done.

Live your life
Sometimes feelings of stress come from our own busy thoughts, thoughts that keep us so preoccupied that, when we are doing enjoyable things, we are not even there. Practice bringing mindful awareness to the present moment. Pay attention to what you are doing and the people you are with. Mindfulness helps reduce feelings of stress and slows busy, unproductive thoughts. Mindfulness also helps us enjoy special moments and think more clearly. This is your life - enjoy it as much as possible! Laugh, have fun, and count your blessings.

Set helpful routines and rituals
Routines relieve stress, and rituals give life meaning. Routines reduce the need to make decisions when our minds are overcrowded. Autopilot can be great when it comes to everyone chipping in to clean up after dinner, planning meals, or getting out the door in the morning.

Pleasant routines can take on the quality of a ritual. After-dinner family activities, bedtime stories and Saturday afternoon family hikes bring families together. Children especially need predictability and consistency, so our busy lives don't spill over and create hurried, stressed children.