Juggling Work Online and Life Offline

Life is a juggling act -

One in which the number of balls increases dramatically even as time shrinks at double speed. This is especially the case when you are trying to achieve something important to you while managing the things that are important to life in general and to those who share your life. So how do you keep it all from crashing down on your head? Here is an exercise to help sort it out. You'll need a piece of paper and pen or a fresh excel file.

Define What Matters Most

Define what really matters to you. This is the no-negotiation zone. The black-and-white-this-is-how-it-is zone. This is for the "constants" in your life that you have set in stone. Things like ethics. Things like Time with God. Time with your spouse. (The time itself can be negotiated later - the absolute factor here is that you are going to spend a certain amount of time each day/week/etc. without compromise.)

Define What is Important

Define what needs to be done on a daily/weekly basis. Working at your current job, taking care of your spouse/family/pets, worship, relaxation, paying bills, buying groceries.

Define What is Negotiable

Does the laundry have to be done daily or can it be done weekly? Do meals have to be fixed at set times or are they flexible? Do you have to spend 2 hours a day on Facebook with friends? Are you willing to let the dusting slide while you work on your website?

Define Your Business Goals

What are your goals for your online business? What do you want to accomplish and how are you going to do it?

Set Boundaries

Once you can see all of the directions life is pulling you in and have determined how you want those directions to flow, it's time to take an important but often difficult step - Setting Boundaries. (If you happen to be a mom with a mom's heart, you may find it hard to learn to protect your time, space and dreams. Do it anyway. You'll thank yourself later.)

If, for any reason, you find it difficult to say no, start practicing. Get in front of the mirror and say it loud. Take a yellow highlighter and write "NO" on every page of your planner. (Can't remember who gave me that advice but I love it. )

Put It Into Perspective

Now that you have sorted out the parts, piece them together into a new whole. One that acknowledges who you are as well as where you want to go.

--> Your boundaries will probably have to "float" occasionally instead of being "fixed."

--> Your business tasks may have to be done during different times and parts of the day instead of in one chunk.

--> Life is full of variables and one (or more) will appear whenever you think you have conquered the game.

Plain Truths About Life Balance

Few of us have the luxury of living a life where the world revolves around us. Most of us are on the other side of the road - the one where we have to dodge, duck, jump, hop, skip, all of the obstacles that are coming at us.

Knowing our dream destination is half the battle in reaching it. Mapping the journey keeps us going in the right direction. Well-set boundaries offer chances to catch a breath. Getting knocked down doesn't have to mean we're out. As long as we keep getting back on the track and stay in the game, we are headed for success.

P.S. If you get there first, save me a couple of seats to fall on. : )