Some people like to talk about how busy they are. Take for example, the story of Julia Beck Bromberg in last month’s edition of Worthwhile Magazine, who has two kids, three companies, 14-hour days and a life that spans two cities. It made me dizzy to read about her frenetic life. Most of us do not aspire to a life like Julia’s—we’re just trying to do our jobs and have a life that matches our priorities. Nonetheless, work and life outside of work keep us out-straight. It’s no wonder that 70-80% of all visits to the doctor are for stress complaints or illnesses. I don’t see our work-related stress diminishing any time soon since Americans have just earned the dubious honor of working more than any other nation in the world.
It is no surprise that for the past five years, the topic I am most asked to speak about to organizations is how to gain a better balance in life. One solution I suggest is a set of steps—simple, but not necessarily easy. These steps include:
• Slow down your speech and your pace—it may help you think more clearly.
• Pay attention to your breathing. Inhale and exhale deeply throughout the day.
• Attend to one thing at a time—a practice that counters multi-tasking.
• Think of what you are grateful for on a daily basis.
Once you’re in a rut of trying to keep up with what you should have done yesterday, it’s difficult to switch gears and take things down a notch. From my own experience, if you try these steps each day for 3 weeks, your life will likely change. So, why not begin a new habit that may decrease those visits to the doctor and have you enjoying more in each day.
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