Juggling Elephants Blog

While cleaning off one of my desks I found a great article on beating stress from an old Reader's Digest. It's a good prescription for beginning the healing process after an elephant you were attempting to juggle has fallen on you. The list also gets you started on preventing them from falling on you again. They include:

• Make time for yourself. Reserve part of a day each week for just you.
• Develop a method to calm yourself. Meditate, breathe deeply or just closing your eyes for a few moments ( I have a special folder of music on my mp3 player for just such occasions).
• Analyze what you love and hate about your work. Plan strategies to take care of the items you hate and celebrate what you love.
• Settle for less than perfect. Set boundaries on work or other overwhelming tasks.
• Take good care of yourself. You know what it means... eat healthy, exercise, sleep well, etc.
• Cultivate a support network.
• Set limits. Take time before saying yes to a new commitment-you will find that your responses are much more logical and less emotional.
• Plan for the future. Take small steps (see Thursday's blog) to making things better professionally or personally.

Labels: Reflection, stress reduction

I had the opportunity to spend some time with an old friend today. He was just beaming! He was always a positive guy, but today he seemed even more enthusiastic than ever. A few minutes into the conversation, one of the reasons for his new found zeal became clear-he had been on an intermission with one of his rings.

In July his position at a company had been cut. Out of work since that time, he had engaged in more quality time with his family and took more time for himself. He said that he had been spending so much time on work that he just didn't realize what he had been missing in the other areas of his life. He said, "After my time off from work, I look at people differently. I see what was lacking and have taken steps to find more fulfillment." Wow!!! All that, and he still doesn't have a job!

With his "work ring intermission" now almost over, he plans to keep many of these "new acts" in his lineup even after he returns to a regular work schedule.

What would an intermission reveal to you?

Labels: Reflection, rest, work/life balance