1. Having Balance in Your Life

2. Is Your Life in Balance Quiz? Directions: Answer true or false to each statement below. 1.I find myself spending more and more time on school or work-related projects. 2.I often feel I don't have any time for myself -- or for my family and friends. 3.No matter what I do, it seems that often every minute of every day is always scheduled for something. 4.Sometimes I feel as though I've lost sight of who I am and why I chose this activity/job/career. 5.I can't remember the last time I was able to find the time to take a day off to do something fun -- something just for me. 6.I feel stressed out most of the time. 7.I can't even remember the last time I used all my allotted vacation and personal days.

3. Is Your Life in Balance Quiz? 8.It sometimes feels as though I never even have a chance to catch my breath before I have to move on to the next project/crisis. 9.I can't remember the last time I read -- and finished -- a book that I was reading purely for pleasure. 10.I wish I had more time for some outside interests and hobbies, but I simply don't. 11.I often feel exhausted -- even early in the week. 12.I can't remember the last time I went to the movies or visited a museum or attended some other cultural event. 13.I do what I do because so many people (parents, teachers, friends, children) depend on me for support. 14.I've missed many of my family's important events because of school or work-related time pressures and responsibilities. 15.I almost always bring work home with me.

4. Scoring: Give yourself 1 point for each "true" response. Note that each "true" response is a sign that you probably need to make changes in your life -- and the higher the number, the more critical it is for you to make changes in your lifestyle. If you scored… 0-2 Your life is in pretty good balance; just be sure to do what you can to guard that balance. 3-5 Your work/life balance is teetering on the edge; now is the time to make changes before the problems overwhelm you. 5+ Your life is out of balance; you need to take immediate action to make changes in your work and your life before things start crashing around you.

5. Tips for Getting Your Work/Life in Balance Slow Down. Life is simply too short, so don't let things pass you in a blur. Take steps to stop and enjoy the things and people around you. Schedule more time between meetings; don't make plans for every evening or weekend, and find some ways to distance yourself from the things that are causing you the most stress. Learn to Better Manage Your Time. Avoid Procrastination. For many people, most of the stress they feel comes from simply being disorganized -- and procrastinating. Learn to set more realistic goals and deadlines -- and then stick to them. You'll find that not only are you less stressed, but your work will be better. Share the Load. Even though we may sometimes feel we're the only ones capable of doing something, it's usually not the case. Get your partner or other family members to help you with all your personal/family responsibilities. Taking care of the household, children, or parents should not be the responsibility of just one person.

6. Tips for Getting Your Work/Life in Balance Let Things Go. (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.) It's simpler said than done, but learn to let things go once in a while. So what if the dishes don't washed everyday or that the house doesn't get vacuumed every week. Learn to recognize the things that don't really have much impact in your life and allow yourself to let them go -- and then not beat yourself up for doing so. Explore Your Options. Get Help. If you are feeling overwhelmed with your family responsibilities, please get help if you can afford it. Find a sitter for your children, explore options for aging parents, and seek counseling for yourself. In many cases, you have options, but you need to take the time to find them. Take Charge. Set Priorities. Sometimes it's easier for us to allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed rather than taking charge and developing a prioritized list of things that need to get done. You need to buck the trend. Develop a list. Set priorities. And then enjoy the satisfaction of crossing things off your list.

7. Tips for Getting Your Work/Life in Balance Simplify. It seems human nature for just about everyone to take on too many tasks and responsibilities, to try to do too much, and to own too much. Find a way to simplify your life. Change your lifestyle. Learn to say no to requests for help. Get rid of the clutter and baggage in your house -- and your life. Find a New Career. Some careers are simply more stressful and time-consuming than others. If you need more time for yourself or your family, now may be the time to explore careers that are less stressful and more flexible. Find a New Job. Rather than a career change, perhaps you simply need to take a less stressful job within your chosen career. This change may involve working with your current employer to identify a new position, it may involve a full job- search, or it may involve temping or becoming a consultant or starting a freelancing or other home-based business.

8. The key word is balance. You need to find the right balance that works for you. Celebrate your successes and don't dwell on your failures. Life is a process, and so is striving for balance in your life. http://www.quintcareers.com/printable/work-life_balance_tips.html

9. How does your attitude affect your work? http://www.ehow.com/print/facts_5882073_ attitude-affect-workplace_.html http://www.ehow.com/print/facts_5882073_ attitude-affect-workplace_.html