Posts Tagged ‘work/life balance’

Why you should strive for integration, not balance

Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 4/30/2015

“Hi. How are you?”

This is a pretty standard greeting as we acknowledge co-workers in the morning or begin a phone conversation. In fact, it’s become the kind of question that rarely, if ever, requires a serious response. If we do get a real answer, it often feels awkward or even intrusive.

For some time I’ve noticed that the response I usually get when I ask, “How are you?” is “busy,” “crazy,” or “stressed.” It seems like most of us are running in different directions, struggling to manage it all, and striving to make a difference in our personal and professional lives. The common thread is the desire to achieve a greater work-life balance.

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Take Time to Appreciate

Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 3/28/2013

Snowstorms…spring thaw…freezing rain. Huge fluctuations in weather are quite common in the Midwest. If you’ve lived or traveled in this area you are well accustomed to it.

What struck me during a recent cold spell is how easy it is for some people to focus on the negative instead of appreciating what’s in front of them. The robins are back—scratching for food through what remains of the winter snow. The crocuses and daffodils are poking their way out of the still frozen ground. Yet, what I’ve heard from a lot of people is the negative reaction to our slow turning spring (i.e., “I’m SO sick of winter”). While this is understandable as temperatures remain chilly, it prevents people from appreciating what is around them and recognizing the beauty that is at hand.

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Telecommuting and the Millennial Workforce

Author: Paul Dillenburg, Date: 10/26/2011

Over the last several years, we have been hearing more and more from our clients about the new generation of employees, the Millennials. Among the unique attributes of this generation is the need to find fulfillment at work and in their personal lives – the proverbial work/life balance.

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Living in the Here and Now

Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 2/9/2011

I’ve been coaching someone who has been striving to be more “present”. Her mind constantly races to her to-do list of 50 things that need to be accomplished. She runs from one activity to the next, rarely enjoying the journey or the accomplishment.

She works long hours and has done so for years. That being said, her challenge isn’t a work/life balance issue. She enjoys countless “fun” activities with family and friends. She volunteers, goes out for dinner, regularly works out, enjoys the theater, and spends time with her family. Her challenge is living in the “here and now”—enjoying the moment. She wants to “stop and smell the roses” and live with more gratitude and appreciation.

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The 20-10 Assignment

Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 10/5/2010

The pace of our lives seems to be escalating at an ever-increasing rate. We are busy at home and work; we are active in the community and support those causes important to us. Most people “want to make a difference in the world.” Yet we often feel like hamsters on the wheel—we’re busy but we’re not sure whether we accomplish a lot.

That’s where the 20-10 assignment comes in. It goes like this: Suppose you woke up tomorrow and received two phone calls. The first phone call tells you that you have inherited $20 million, no strings attached. The second tells you that you have an incurable and terminal disease, and you have no more than 10 years to live. In each scenario, what would you do differently, and, in particular, what would you stop doing?

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Living In The Here And Now

Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 8/31/2010

I’ve been coaching someone who has been striving to be more “present”. Her mind is constantly racing to her to-do list of 50 things that need to get done. She runs from one activity to the next, rarely enjoying the journey or the accomplishment.

She works long hours and has done so for years. But her challenge isn’t a work/life balance issue. She enjoys countless “fun” activities with family and friends. She volunteers, goes out for dinner, regularly works out, enjoys the theater, and spends time with her family. Living in the “here and now” is different. She wants to “stop and smell the roses” and live life with more gratitude and appreciation. She clearly wants to enjoy the moment she is in—without getting ready for or thinking about the moment to come.

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Work/Life Balance… Work Hard, Play Hard

Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 8/3/2010

Work/life balance is something many of us struggle with. Late nights at the office. Evening work once the family goes to bed. Or, weekend work just to keep up. I profess to regularly having “work/life balance” as a goal on my development plan.

Since I have always enjoyed work, I don’t mind working long hours; I truly believe that if you are passionate about what you do, work can be part of your life’s mission. That being said, I think it is important to make sure that there is plenty of time for family, play, volunteering, and just plain relaxation. I was reminded of how to do this when I attended a conference recently and heard Dr. Jim Goodnight speak on the issue of work/life balance.

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