| The art of balancing work and play is difficult in | | | | midnight, and this woman needs her beauty sleep! |
| today's society. If you are like me - a woman | | | | I try to cut myself some slack on the |
| who has dreams, passions and a creative side | | | | weekends.Or this => I can also get sidetracked |
| stifled during the day to earn a paycheck, you | | | | while cleaning by going through the magazine rack |
| have to be extremely organized and use time | | | | where I find pages from the newspaper that I'm |
| management, priorization, and lists and planning to | | | | saving to write about.On this topic I'll conclude with |
| balance work, home and time for yourself.Time | | | | "do as I say, not as I do" since I'm still working on |
| Management and MultitaskingThree nights a week, | | | | mastering it.WeekendsOn weekends I am often |
| there are TV shows that I can't miss. I use this | | | | up until 2 AM writing, reading or blogging. I usually |
| time to iron, fold laundry, check my emails. If I | | | | nap on the weekends, giving myself permission to |
| really need to get to use my creativity, I use the | | | | rejuvenate my body, mind and spirit. Frequently, |
| time to make beaded jewelry, paint or make | | | | in private or group meditations, I sing or chant, |
| greeting cards.Writing Lists and Making PrioritiesAs | | | | fulfilling my need to be connected to the Universe |
| an avid notetaker from my past school days and | | | | and unplugged from normal weekday |
| as a writer, I already carry at least one "brillant | | | | activities.One goal that I have is to take spiritual |
| idea notebook" in my purse and in my car. This | | | | time, even if it's 15 minutes to start, during the |
| enables me to write down (Web) article ideas, | | | | week also. Spiritual TimeThis can be praying or |
| words or license plates that make me laugh. One | | | | meditating individually or in a group, observing |
| example is a hearst bearing the license plate | | | | nature and the Universe around me. For me, it's |
| "RUNext".Seriously, lists serve as a reminder to | | | | important to belong to a community of |
| achieve tasks that need to be done on a daily | | | | like-minded people, so I attend weekly religious |
| (short-term) and when I get to it (long-term) | | | | services and spiritual meetings.Nutrition and |
| basis. At times my lists are too optimistic with | | | | ExerciseYoga and Pilates reduce my stress level |
| several items. I ease up by crossing off what I've | | | | and doing it with a friend results in laughter at |
| done and starting two new lists: one for | | | | attempting poses that experts |
| short-term (today) and long-term (this week) | | | | have been doing for years.Recently, instead of |
| projects on separate pieces of paper.Prioritization | | | | eating ice cream or popcorn for lunch or dinner, |
| involves decision making - "do we have clean | | | | I've been eating salads, vegetables and trying to |
| underwear for tomorrow?" and must-do items | | | | eat more meat than dairy.So, you might be |
| that pop up including "the cat threw up again". | | | | thinking, "what's the plan for this weekend"? |
| These may not be on the list, and that's OK. The | | | | Working on our income tax returns and |
| list is a guideline, not set in stone.The key question | | | | Playing with the cats and spending time with my |
| I ask myself is, "how important is it"? I use short- | | | | husband are the priorities. At least one nap |
| and long-term lists to achieve my daily and | | | | I might even do some laundry and cleaning in |
| weekly goals. I've found that writing down "relax", | | | | between.It all depends on what my spirit guides |
| "play" and "exercise" remind me to take the time | | | | me to do.Linda Blatchford is an experienced editor |
| that I need for myself.Work and CommutingThe | | | | proofreader an writer and Web designerchic at |
| average person may spend at least 60 hours per | | | | She has a Basic Web Design Certificate and is |
| week working outside the home and commuting. | | | | hungry for new Web knowledge. She is currently |
| I've begun listening to audiobooks during my | | | | working on three Websites; proofing her recently |
| commute and doing errands during my lunch hour. | | | | completed book, "Cats Are People Too"; learning |
| This increases the time I have during the week to | | | | to make beaded jewelry and other craft projects |
| do household chores or freelance work for clients | | | | and increasing her knowledge of spirituality.Linda |
| or updating Web sites.FocusIf you are not doing a | | | | loves chocolate, cats, ice cream, laughing, crafting |
| project that involves multitasking, focus on the | | | | and shopping.Linda is a member of the Society for |
| task at hand and see it through to completion. For | | | | Technical Communication, the National Association |
| example, while I read incoming newsletters/ | | | | of Women Writers and listserves for Chicago |
| ezines, it's very easy for me click on Web links | | | | Women in Technology, copywriters and writers |
| that take me off into the adventures of Web | | | | and spiritual ideas.Linda Blatchford |
| Design and copywriting and other interests.Don't | | | | Etailer, Web Designerchic, Writer |
| do this => I have learned that if I get on the | | | | LinorStore. |
| computer after 9 PM, I won't get off until after | | | | |