1. Say No to the Unimportant
When you are confronted with a choice, be sure to ask yourself, “What is the cost?  Will this create a benefit in my life or just be another source of stress?”  Work-life balance requires effective priority setting. Learn ways to set priorities on the things that matter most and to say “no” to the things that aren’t serving you.

2. Simplify Your Life
Life tends to get pretty complex, what can you do to create a simpler approach to daily living?  Here are some ideas that can help:

• Let go of people and things that have been holding you back; i.e., clutter, negativity, clothing, activities, luxury
  items, toys, etc.).
• Live within your financial means.
• Make more time for the things that are REALLY important to you.
  In short—Live simply, expect less, and give more.

3. Plan for Fun … with Family, Partner, Relationships
Every weekend set a goal of doing one fun activity.  Make it a goal to call two friends—you won’t have any regrets about not building up your close relationships.

4. Take Care of Yourself:  Mind Your Health and Wellness
Managing your personal health is essential to balancing work and life.   Define your daily exercise time—what works best for you?  Create that time in the morning, afternoon of evening … depending on the time that fits for you.  Get a checkup— attending to the needs of your best health and asking questions to insure that you are on the right track are both important parts of your work-life balance.

5. Schedule Time for Relaxation
If you are in the habit of workaholism, it is time to drop it and commit more time at home to stress-reduction activities.  And while you are at it, take care to pace yourself.  Pacing means looking at the tasks at hand and doing the more complex tasks at the time when your energy is highest; then, relegating simpler tasks for times when energy is waning.  By carefully pacing your work activity(ies) and your play activity(ies), you create a pattern of maximum effectiveness in your work-life balance.

I urge you to use these tips over and over while you establish more balance in your life!  To learn more ways to add balance and eliminate stress, visit Add Balance to Manage Stress Now!