Recently I went out for coffee with a good friend of mine and we got to talking about the work-life balance struggle that so many individuals face.
Everyone has their own hobbies and relationships outside of work that they would like to spend time on outside of their standard 40-hour work week. At the same time, I find that after I have had a long day at work the last thing I want to do is hit the gym, or go get dolled up to meet a friend.
This is where 2013 is going to be different for me; I think I am starting to figure it out!
My Word of the Year for 2013 is Mindset: “a fixed mental attitude of disposition that predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations; an inclination or habit.” When it comes to the work-life balance struggle, I want to maintain the mindset that from here on you are what you do, you are what you eat, and you are the company you keep. As for work, it is easier said than done, but still simple: leave your personal crap at the door; any disagreements, bad hair days or missed workouts – leave it at home when you come into the office.
Finding a balance between your personal and professional life can be challenging. One thing I like to do to give my Lifestyle a good Kick in the you-know-what is to set goals. I set 3 goals a year (sometimes a week or a month depending on the size of the goal) and I focus my time and energy on those 3 things. That way I am focusing on what is important to me while tuning out the noise in the rest of my life.
What better way to motivate and encourage others with their goals than to share my own? For the next 4 months I have 3 goals related to health/fitness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general:
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Get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep every night
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Eat 4-6 small, healthy meals a day
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Exercise at least 3 times a week
Stay tuned to hear how my balance struggles are going! In the meantime, what goals have you set to give your Lifestyle a good Kick?
