Work-Life Balance Tip #1 - Unwire

I've had a lot of requests from subscribers and clients to regularly post tips for better work-life balance, so a new feature of this blog will be to share one or two balance tips with you every week. I hope that you will enjoy them!

Work-life Balance Tip #1 - UNWIRE
by Jennifer Britton - Potentials Realized
Copyright 2006

Today's world is not getting any slower -- email, cell phones, Blackberries -- many professionals and individuals are "on" 24-7, 365 days a year juggling work and life. Even if you've left the office, do you log on at home just to see what's come in? That 15 minute check may often become several hours.

When was the last time you totally unwired? Disconnected from the phone, the email, the Blackberry?

A few days ago our phone lines, along with the power, were ripped out by yet another powerful storm. It was amazing how a regular Sunday turned into a fantastic quiet family day. No calls, no interruptions, no TV, no email. It really became a full quality day for us where we spent the day indoors and outdoors - playing games and reading.

After being on call 24-7, virtually 365 days a year, for almost a decade while I worked with humanitarian organizations and the UN, I have chosen not to add a cell to my already busy life since returning back to north America two and a half years ago. People always seem to find a way to reach me if it really is an emergency. If not, business can wait...after all, I support others in creating better work-life balance and shouldn't I walk the talk too?

Here's my challenge for the day -- unwire for a day this weekend -- turn off the cell, shut off the computer, put away the Blackberry. Spend some time doing what you love and never seem to have the time for. If you can't do the whole day, unwire for a few hours.

I'd love to hear your comments on how "unwiring" goes! What did you discover through the process?

Jennifer

Are you looking for content for your newsletter, website or ezine? You can reproduce this tip at no cost. Please attach our company information and contact details. We would also appreciate a link and a brief email from you as to where this has appeared. Enjoy!

Relishing the Changing Seasons

We are now two days away from the official start of fall and the leaves here in Toronto are just starting to turn. In late August the leaves started turning at my northern refuge and office in Muskoka, and are now almost reaching their peak.

As these visible signs of the changing seasons evolve, I've taken some time to reflect on the cyclical nature of life and business, as well as being able to notice at how different a place I am at than I was this time last year. After having spent over a decade living and working in the Caribbean where seasonal change was not as pronounced (but was there) I relish the evolving nature of the seasons here in North America.

Today, as you are moving around, take a look -- what is shifting in the external envirionment where you live? If you are moving into fall, or spring, what's changing? What's changing in your life? Thinking back to last year at this time, what's different?

I hope that you too will relish the changes that are happening before our eyes. What's your intention for fall?

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized
http: www.potentialsrealized.com

Looking for some stress relief tips?

If you are looking for some great stress relief tips I'd recommend you check out Aurelia William's blog. A fellow coach, Aurelia provides some great information on her blog and websites about stress management. Aurelia also offers some free e-books for Moms.

Check it out if this first week back to school has been a little less balanced than others!

Jennifer
Jennifer Britton, CPCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized


The next 90 Day Your Balanced Life! Program from Potentials Realized starts on Tuesday September 19th from 7 - 8 pm (EST) by phone. We will meet twice a month as a group, and the program also incluces individual coaching sessions each month. Are you ready to move your life more into balance? Spaces still remain. Program information can be found here as well as downloadable registration forms. I hope that you will join me!