Work-Life Balance, Part 2: Now, now, now!

It is one thing to live in the “now” and another to believe everything needs to be done right now. It is so easy to forget our role in setting unrealistic expectations with others, particularly on the work front. Can you really take on that extra project when you already have three competing deadlines and your daughter’s recital is tomorrow night? When we can’t manage expectations at work, imbalances begin to take root on the home front. This is when the power of “no” comes in handy:

Give yourself permission to say, “No”:  Setting realistic expectations and boundaries at work is a learned skill. I used to be the classic workaholic in my 20s and 30s, but when the stress took its toll, I had to stop and ask myself:  why choose work instead of time with friends, family or me? Quit saying “yes” because you think you should or have to out of a false sense of obligation and learn to respectfully say “no” when you already have a full plate. This not only serves you best by making room in your life for what matters most to you, but also helps you define priorities and improve workflow, productivity and the bottom line!