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Trapeze Artist For Life: Balancing Entrepreneurship & Family |
Written by BraveHeart Woman
Saturday, 26 May 2007
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How often do you hear the words, "I wish I'd done it differently"? Looking back on your last year of entrepreneurship, do you wish you had done it with a different emphasis? After your first year, it is good to access your progress. What changes would you make? How would your life be different? Have you found that even though you no longer work for somebody else, that you are still a slave to your work? Do the kids come home from school, pass by your office while you are on the phone, murmuring "Oh, she's on the phone again!" as they slide into the crevasses of the sofa and zone out in front of the TV? Does your husband come in haggard from his job, hoping for at least a hug, sees you on the phone and reaches for a cold one instead? Do you suddenly realize that you haven't gone to the bathroom even once despite your bladder crying out for relief for the last two hours? By mid afternoon, do you realize you haven't even had breakfast yet? Are you halfway through your first bite at dinner when you realize you haven't said grace? Are your kids whiny and demanding and reluctant to help with clean-up? Does your husband fall into bed, staying awake as long as he can, while he knows you're still typing out the last email in the next room? If this is a common scenario, then you have traded chains at the office for hobbles at home. There are four essential areas of your life that need attention in a specific order of importance: 1) Spiritual 2) Physica 3) Emotional 4) Mental. First and foremost, is your spiritual self. It's not enough to go to church on Sunday and Wednesday, and attend a bible study once a week. That's a good start, but daily prayer, meditation and quiet time can start your day off on an even keel. Just like you have formulated a plan for your business by setting appointments and having specific uninterrupted work time, you must schedule your spiritual time, as well. From the moment you step out of bed until you hit the sack that night, place God by your side and He will sustain you throughout the day. Some good early morning activities might be getting up an hour earlier than the rest of the family or grabbing some time after everyone is gone off to work and school. Read the Bible or something inspirational, jot down your prayerful gratitude and then your requests. Ask for guidance and wisdom for the day. Being spiritually aligned with God's power will help you to be more productive and balanced throughout the day. Second most important ingredient for the day is paying attention to your physical self. Start the day with stretches and breathing. Yoga is perfect for that. Take the dog or yourself for a walk, take a swim, bike awhile. Starting your day with physical exercise oxygenates the body and clears the mind. Find a regular routine that works for you and stick to it everyday. The third most important ingredient is getting your emotional needs met. That means staying connected to your family in a focused, concrete way. When the kids come in the door, be available for them. Don't schedule a prospecting call around the time they come home from school. Work around it. Block out that time in your day planner. Stepping away from work one half hour before kids are expected home, gives you a break to sip a leisurely coffee or tea, prepare a light snack for the kids and greet them with open arms when they rush through the door. Spend a good half hour chatting about their day, reinforcing their self-esteem and being a good listener. That way they will be more willing to cooperate with you when you do return to the phone. Explain clearly what your work is all about and why you are doing it. If kids feel included, they will be even more helpful and willing to adjust. Take this time to check the schedule for the week and try to plan an outing once a month with just one child alone. Each child needs to feel special and equally as loved. Time should be taken every month for individual attention to spouse and children, as well as alone with hubby and together as a family. Women tend to do so much for others, yet they forget about themselves. So, in addition to your quiet time, find time for your girlfriends and an outing with them now and again. This is all part of the balancing act Also, arrange your schedule around your husband coming home, in need of a little love and affection. Like the kids, arrange time to be prepared for his arrival. Freshen up, put on lipstick, embrace him at the door, ask about his day. No, this is not the 50's and you have not been cleaning your house all day and watching the soaps. However, a little extra attention to your husband and time to chat about his day will go a long way to satisfying both of your emotional needs. Husbands get resentful if they feel your work takes priority over them. With just a few short minutes each day, you can keep that feeling at bay. Also, once a month (at least) plan a quiet, romantic night out. Keep the flames of desire alive. This way you don't feel guilty for not spending enough time with your family. Emotional needs are being met for everyone. Last is the mental ingredient. If you are not being challenged by your work, find something that does challenge you. Passion for your daily activities is paramount to production and perseverance. Find your niche, continue self-development, and practice keeping balance in your life. If you feel like a trapeze artist with no safety net beneath you, then you need to stop and assess what you are doing in the realm of spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental activities that will provide the comfort of a life-long safety net Businesswoman, Friend, Collaborator, and Team player, Suzanne Strauss fulfills her Entrepreneurial Calling by offering a great service that enriches the lives of others. Together with other fellow BraveHeart Community members, her goal is to empower Women to be multi-dimensional success stories and inspiration to others. Be Sure to Visit: Be a BraveHeart Woman Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
Businesswoman, Friend, Collaborator, and Team player Suzanne Strauss fulfills her Entrepreneurial calling by offering a great service that enriches the lives of others. Together with other fellow BraveHeart Community members, her goal is to empower Women to be multi-dimensional success stories and inspiration to others. Be Sure to Visit: http://BraveHeartWomen.com/suzannestrauss
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