Do you believe in work-life balance?
Do you believe in work life balance?
In my new book, The Artful Marketer: The Fundamental Business Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs, I share a checklist that helps you to work through where you feel in or out of balance in your life. I have discovered that my clients often fail to celebrate or acknowledge what they are doing well.
Below, you will find a series of statements about the current state of your business and your life. Answer the statements with “always,” “sometimes,” or “never.” Take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the good habits you already have in place. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. It’s intended to be a snapshot of the most important balls that you want to keep juggling.
As you go through the list, notice how you feel about each statement. If a negative thought comes to the surface, acknowledge it and let it go. It’s just a thought, not a reality. Nothing on this list is impossible to establish in your life. Pay special attention to the statements that you have resistance to. Again, just notice them and ask yourself, “Why am I feeling so much resistance?”
When it comes to balancing life and work, what are you doing well?
Reflecting back on your responses, notice any trends. Are you doing a great job of taking care of yourself at home but avoiding work? Are you so focused on work you have forgotten you have a personal life?
Work Life Balance Journaling Prompts
Take out your journal or some blank sheets of paper. Grab some markers or your favorite pen and let’s dig a little deeper into your experience of balance. You will find the checklist above and the questions below in your companion workbook. You can download them http://www.mindfulpatterns.com/artful-marketer-book and print them out.
What is your Truth about being out of balance? Pick three areas from the checklist that you would like to improve and answer the following three questions for each statement.
- What is the Impact of being out of balance in this area, and how it is affecting your life and/or your business?
- What is the most powerful DECISION you need to make?
- What is one ACTION you will take and by when?
I would love for you to share your celebrations or challenges in the comments below!
Hi Minette,
Congratulations on your success with this book (not to mention getting it done :-)) and all the vision you have artfully crafted around the launch. I’m so excited for you – and intrigued by how you’ve handled this roll-out strategy.
Relatively to your question – I’d have to say not much these days. Working on it (perhaps that’s the problem) ;-).
What a great list!! Hmmm… Yes, I eat healthy; I’m pretty good at saying no to projects that take to much time/energy. I am positive, passionate, enthusiastic everyday === the rest, well… I have room for improvement! 😉
I am very much looking forward to starting your book tomorrow and putting it into action. The first three weeks of this year have already been very busy — in a constructive way — and I’m doing better about making a plan and working accordingly … Crossing paths with you and your book could not have happened at a better time! Thank you!! Blessings to you and yours… ~ Carolyn
Thank you so much Carolyn! I am so happy to be of service. Would love feedback or questions as you work through the book!
Great to hear from you, Nanette. Thanks for the congratulations!
Your list is really interesting to me, Minette. It reminds me that I actually handle most of these points really well–however, it’s within my mind that I tend to fail at giving myself a break or a rest. Even if the way I spend my hours is fairly balanced, what I need to keep cultivating is a more peaceful balance in my thinking/feeling/perception of my life and work.
I love this list, Minette.
“Good enough vs perfect” reminds me of a powerful lesson I learned from Jen Louden a few years ago now — one that has stuck with me. She talks about “lowering the bar” — set a goal and then be gentle enough w/yourself to lower the bar and meet yourself where you’re at.
I’ve thrived using this concept, and it has certainly come in handy dealing with work, my business, and my health in all its manifestations.
Thanks for sharing this!
xoxox
Sue
Cool checklist Minette! I am happy to celebrate that most of my answers were an enthusiastic “always”! It was helpful to see that the areas of systems and work/life boundaries needs some work. I am a stay-at-home homeschooling mom of a 4 year old and don’t have a clear routine of when is work time and when is everything else time. I could work on this area and will start with your excellent journal prompts! Thanks! 🙂
Hi Minette! I just started reading your book and loving it so far!From your check list above, I am starting to ask for help in my business. I am reaching out much more for support and guidance. Thanks for the work you do to help creative working women.
I am very much out of balance right now… I’m in that creative, hyper-focus stage of a book project and have a hard time stopping. But balance can be cyclical, too, right???? 🙂
Congrats on your book. As I said on Amazon, I enjoyed it. Can’t wait to see what’s next.