10 Tips to Find Balance

Top Ten Tips to Find More Balance in Your Busy Daysnn1. Steal Five Minutes – wherever you are!nThe next time you have five free minutes, grab it and do nothing. Get to a meeting early and sit quietly; try to forget that extra load of laundry; take a short walk; breathe deeply; pause.nBeing still allows you to reconnect with your instinctsnn2. Delegate... and AppreciatenLet your kids make their own beds, and be OK with how they do it! If your husband makes dinner, don’t complain about the burnt hot dogs, but show gratitude.nGive yourself a break by letting others help younn3. Your Health MattersnLike clockwork, you take your kids for their annual checkups, to the dentist and to specialists, but over 50% of moms we talked to said they miss mammograms, doctor’s appointments and dental checkups for themselves! Make a master list on the computer of all your checkups, specialists’ names and numbers and dates for visits and then no slacking off allowed...nYour mental and physical health is a prioritynn4. Sex is IN; Headaches are OUT!nCommit to saying yes to your partner more often: Increasing frequency of sex from once a month to once a week improves happiness as much as getting a raise of $50,000 a year, according to a 2004 study in the National Bureau of Economics Research Working Papers.nIntimacy with a loved one makes us come alive!nn5. Curiosity—It’s KEYnPick up that magazine or newspaper in the corner and actually read an article! Get down to your kid’s eye level and listen to their stories. If you loved old movies as a kid, skip dinner out with your husband and head over to the local community theatre instead.nPlug into the world around you to stay energizednn6. Just Say No!nDecide on your priorities and stick to them; you are in charge of your own calendar. Be prepared with a reason: “Sorry, I’ve already committed to something for my child/ my boss/ my family, maybe next time,” and then, be firm!nBe proactive, not reactivenn7. Strip Down to the BasicsnTry a spending embargo: Don’t re-stock your fridge for two weeks to clear out your pantry; re-use or inherit instead of buying something new; discard old clothing when you buy new.nClutter feels bad: simplicity feels betternn8. Walk Don’t RunnSlow down so you enjoy the scenery. If you usually take a shower, try taking a bath. If you’re always late, cut something out of your day so you’re early instead. Have a conversation instead of e-mail.nTaking life more slowly is a conscious choicenn9. A Blast from the PastnWhat did you love doing as a kid? Eating ice cream? Running in the rain? Drawing? Figure out what you used to love, and invite it back into your life.nConnect with what makes you ticknn10. Shake Things Up!nWear three inch high pink stilettos. Go on a motorbike. Ride on a rollercoaster. Play a prank on a friend.nLaughter always feels greatnn---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------nnKatrin Schumann is co-author of Mothers Need Time Outs, Too: It's Good to Be a Little Selfish, It Actually Makes You a Better Mother (McGraw-Hill). Passionate about empowering women all over the world, the authors are donating a percentage of their profits to UNIFEM, the United Nations Organization for Women. For more information, go to www.momstimeouts.com.