Have you seen the Clairol nice ‘n easy ads? The slogan, “Lose your roots in just 10 minutes” grabbed me. What else could I do in just 10 minutes? Could I lose that pile of laundry in 10? Prep for a meal? File those papers piling up on my desk?
As a working parent I find I can never keep up with everything. Those grey hairs are always peeking out WAY sooner than I expected! Can you relate? I bet many of you can.
The 2003 Work-Life Conflict in Canada in the New Millennium report shows that 58% of Canadians report high role overload; 44% meet their work demands at the expense of time for their families and relationships outside of work. In 1991, one in ten Canadians worked 50 hours or more per week; in 2001, 1 in 4 did.
So, you’re not alone in this Crazy, Busy, NUTS life!
Now before you pull all your hair out by the roots, try Lynn’s Top 5 Stress-Busting tools:
1. The Timer! Set a timer for 10 minutes and sort through those papers piling up on your desk. The key is NO INTERRUPTIONS! Send your calls directly to voice mail & put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your office door. The world (or more specifically your co-workers) will live WITHOUT YOU for 10 minutes!
2. The Binder! Find or buy binders and plastic page protectors and slot in everything related to a client, a project or your family. For those who are concerned about “out of sight, out of mind,” don’t worry. It’s all there in one place! The binder tool works well for volunteer commitments, too. It appears like you know what you’re doing, even if it’s your first time as president of the Rotary Club! At home, put your family binder in an obvious place (like your kitchen counter) so that every member can access it to find out about school, recreation, extracurricular and community activities.
3. The Family Calendar! Post the week’s events on a family calendar. Don’t forget to put down details like who’s driving, morning & evening meetings, concerts, appointments and whose turn it is to clean your pet’s cage. More detailed information is in the family binder near by. Then every member of the family knows what’s going on, not just Mom! (Great for couples, too. Especially if one or both of you work out of town. Synchronize your calendars electronically, if you wish.)
4. The Freezer! Label, date and freeze steaks & stir-fry strips in a marinade for future meals. Slice up sweet peppers, place in freezer bags and lay flat in the freezer so you can pull out a few to use in lasagna or for stir-fries. Ten minutes prep when unpacking your groceries keeps you from sprouting more grey hairs at 5 p.m. when you’re rushing home and don’t have a clue what’s for dinner!
5. The Walk! Take a 10-minute walk at lunch or coffee break or when you get stuck on a project & need to clear your mind. It’s a great way to sneak fitness into your life. Plus, you may find the best solutions pop into your head during a walk!
If your life just doesn’t feel nice n’ easy much of the time, then pick one of Lynn’s Top 5 Stress-Busting Tools and apply it in the next 7 days. You’ll be amazed at how much your stress plummets in just 10 minutes!
About the author: Work-life balance expert, Lynn Fraser of families are worth it!, coaches you to streamline the small stuff and pare down your life, so you can be doing what you REALLY want to do(from yoga to yachting) with the people you LOVE to be with. Visit her website at www.familiesareworthit.com.
If you would like to use this article for your company or association newsletter or Intranet site GO RIGHT AHEAD. Please include the "About the Author" section at the end of the article with Lynn's website address. Lynn would love to know when (and where) you're publishing it!
