Work-Life Balance Archives - Page 7 of 15

Change: Too Close to See Your Progress

Have you ever made a big change in your life, but noticed that those around you don’t seem to have noticed?

November 6, 2007

Time Management and Balance: Waste More Time

Having had a life in which every minute “counted” and I spent almost all of my waking hours working, I’m grateful for the time I can waste.

November 5, 2007

Getting Things Done – Take a Walk

Have you ever found yourself sitting at your desk, maybe first thing in the morning or right after lunch, and just not feeling functional? Many people call this “can’t get motivated,” but I really think of it as not being able to function correctly. My brain won’t go into gear, I can’t get started on anything, and when I do get started, I can’t keep going.

October 31, 2007

Jon Bon Jovi: Fatherhood and Work-Life Balance

Do you think you know what it’s like to be a rock star dad? You’ve read over the years of the trials and tribulations of some of the world’s most popular icons. You’re sick and tired of hearing about their collective demise, yet feel compassion for those living the Sex/Drugs/Rock ‘n Roll lifestyle because of the insurmountable odds they face in trying to triumph over the challenges of that life and culture.

There have been troubles with the law, divorces, stints in rehabs, 12-Step meetings, illnesses, and even tragic deaths.

If you’ve heard it all before, and and just know where things always seen to lead, why do you want to know about Jon Bon Jovi’s life? Because he’s much like you and me.

October 30, 2007

Need a Break? Do as Badgers Fans Do and JUMP AROUND

We all know that it’s sometimes a good idea to clear our heads during our increasingly-busy days by looking up from our desks and taking a break – going for a walk, sitting in a quiet place, or even logging into Facebook. Taking our minds off the tasks, challenges, and obstacles before us often is exactly what we need to refocus our energies.

I was watching the Wisconsin Badgers game this past Saturday, and it occurred to me that the students who attend the home football games are experts at taking a break. They’ve instituted a tradition whereby they rise to their feet at the end of the third quarter and ‘Jump Around’ to House of Pain’s song of that name.

October 29, 2007

Your Life in Balance – Review

“Your Life in Balance” is an excellent e-book written by David Bohl from Slow Down Fast. It is very well thought-out and written and I recommend it to anyone who wants to make the most out of their life.

I have had the pleasure of reading and now writing a review of David Bohl’s insightful ebook …

October 27, 2007

Happiness and Fulfillment: Did You Say Go to the Ballet?

I have recently been thinking about the things we don’t do, that we love to do. I know people, for instance, who really enjoy the ballet, and who have ballet companies in or near their city, and yet don’t go to the ballet. Why not? “It’s too expensive.” “I don’t have anyone to go with me.” “I don’t have the time.” “I never think of it.”

I say put it on your calendar, spend the money, go alone, give up doing something you don’t enjoy.

October 26, 2007

Being Who You Are and Who You Want to Be

A wonderful woman I’m familiar with is the absolute essence of New York Society – except that she has spent her entire life living in the South.

But I also find it interesting that someone who so clearly loves both New York, with its theatre scene, and Arkansas, where she has lived most of her life excluding graduate school, has found a balance between the two.

October 25, 2007

What Our Kids Teach us About Life Balance

As my kids have grown, and I’ve been fortunate enough to step away from a brutal workaholic schedule and watch them grow up and become young adults, I’ve really enjoyed learning how children just seem to understand balance, and they can teach it to us when we’re willing to learn.

Of course that’s a big if.

October 24, 2007

Living Around Principles vs. Living In Integrity

After I titled this post “Living Around Principles,” it occurred to me that might sound like I mean living by getting around your principles, shoving them aside and living the life you’d be leading if you didn’t have any principles.

Uh, no. I left the title alone because I wanted to go ahead and bring up that idea, and then talk about why it doesn’t work and what I really meant.

Getting around your principles will not create the kind of life you want.

October 23, 2007

Personal Fulfillment: Why Hobbies Matter

In my previous life, before I threw up my hands (and my career as a financial trader), moved to Wisconsin and started living a life I truly enjoyed, I didn’t have time for a hobby. I was like the guy in the recent New Yorker cartoon lying on the beach with his laptop. He says to his wife, “It’s not that I’m a workaholic. I just work to relax.”

If anyone had asked me if I had a hobby I would probably have said, “Yeah, I work. That’s how I spend my free time.” Well, as you probably agree, working between eighty and one hundred hours every week is not exactly conducive to having a hobby, and no, I don’t think working really counts as a hobby.

October 19, 2007

Mastering the Art of Living: Happiness, Success, and Fulfillment

I have been giving some thought to what it means to be a master of life. I think “mastering” life breaks down into four areas, and I want to give some attention to each of these areas. I hope that people will think and talk about these ideas. We can all benefit from discussing what it takes to live the life we want, and these are some areas I think are really important.

October 18, 2007

A Messy Desk is the Sign of a Messy Desk

I was amused recently to see that one of the major office supply stores now carries not only filing supplies but also, believe it or not, “piling” supplies. These consist mainly of plastic envelopes and folders where you can put everything regarding one project together and leave them on your desk. I haven’t talked to anyone who uses them, but I find it interesting that someone is finally noticing that we don’t always even want to keep our desks clear.

October 11, 2007

Is Going Solo a Career Option for You?

Just about everyone, at some point in their lives, dreams of starting their own business, getting “out of the rat race,” “being the boss.”

If you’re thinking about going solo, either as a freelancer or consultant, or as a business owner in some other type of business, that’s great! I really believe there is a lot to be said for owning your own business and running your own show.

However, I would caution you that things are not always black and white.

October 9, 2007

Could a Wellness Program Keep Your Company Healthy?

One of the problems with talking about “health care” is that most people think of it only as a way of treating sick people. Health insurance and prescription plans are indispensable, of course, but have you thought about helping your employees stay well, to cut down on health problems in the future? This is not only good for your bottom line, but it’s good for your employees and your relationship with them. ‘Wellness plan’ is a broad term, but here are some opportunities you might explore:

October 2, 2007

Money is Time: What’s Your Time Worth?

You probably think I just said, “Time is money,” but what I actually said was, “money is time.” They amount to the same thing, really, in some ways. But when you really stop to analyze the idea that money is time, wow. What a concept.

October 1, 2007

My Guest Appearance on ‘Money Sense’ Radio Show

I’ll be Karen Ellenbecker’s guest on her weekly educational non-traditional investment radio program titled Money Sense.

My guest spot on Money Sense can be heard in the greater Milwaukee metro area this Sunday, September 16th, from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM CST.

Listen live via the Web at: (10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM MST, 12:00 Noon CST, 1:00 PM EST)

September 14, 2007

Time Management: Take Pleasure in Puttering – Make a Date for Idle Time in Your Life

The Christian Science Monitor recently ran an essay on the value of puttering.

The thrust of the article was that we don’t putter much anymore. We spend too much time “getting things done.”

Accomplishment is great, but what if we all just stayed at home this Saturday and puttered?