| The art of balancing work and play is | | | | sidetracked while cleaning by going through |
| difficult in today's society. If you are like | | | | the magazine rack where I find pages from the |
| me - a woman who has dreams, passions and a | | | | newspaper that I'm saving to write about.On |
| creative side stifled during the day to earn | | | | this topic I'll conclude with "do as I say, |
| a paycheck, you have to be extremely | | | | not as I do" since I'm still working on |
| organized and use time management, | | | | mastering it.WeekendsOn weekends I am often |
| priorization, and lists and planning to | | | | up until 2 AM writing, reading or blogging. I |
| balance work, home and time for yourself.Time | | | | usually nap on the weekends, giving myself |
| Management and MultitaskingThree nights a | | | | permission to rejuvenate my body, mind and |
| week, there are TV shows that I can't miss. I | | | | spirit. Frequently, in private or group |
| use this time to iron, fold laundry, check my | | | | meditations, I sing or chant, fulfilling my |
| emails. If I really need to get to use my | | | | need to be connected to the Universe and |
| creativity, I use the time to make beaded | | | | unplugged from normal weekday activities.One |
| jewelry, paint or make greeting cards.Writing | | | | goal that I have is to take spiritual time, |
| Lists and Making PrioritiesAs an avid | | | | even if it's 15 minutes to start, during the |
| notetaker from my past school days and as a | | | | week also. Spiritual TimeThis can be praying |
| writer, I already carry at least one | | | | or meditating individually or in a group, |
| "brillant idea notebook" in my purse and in | | | | observing nature and the Universe around me. |
| my car. This enables me to write down (Web) | | | | For me, it's important to belong to a |
| article ideas, words or license plates that | | | | community of like-minded people, so I attend |
| make me laugh. One example is a hearst | | | | weekly religious services and spiritual |
| bearing the license plate "RUNext".Seriously, | | | | meetings.Nutrition and ExerciseYoga and |
| lists serve as a reminder to achieve tasks | | | | Pilates reduce my stress level and doing it |
| that need to be done on a daily (short-term) | | | | with a friend results in laughter at |
| and when I get to it (long-term) basis. At | | | | attempting poses that experts |
| times my lists are too optimistic with | | | | |
| several items. I ease up by crossing off what | | | | have been doing for years.Recently, instead |
| I've done and starting two new lists: one for | | | | of eating ice cream or popcorn for lunch or |
| short-term (today) and long-term (this week) | | | | dinner, I've been eating salads, vegetables |
| projects on separate pieces of | | | | and trying to eat more meat than dairy.So, |
| paper.Prioritization involves decision making | | | | you might be thinking, "what's the plan for |
| - "do we have clean underwear for tomorrow?" | | | | this weekend"? |
| and must-do items that pop up including "the | | | | |
| cat threw up again". These may not be on the | | | | Working on our income tax returns and |
| list, and that's OK. The list is a guideline, | | | | |
| not set in stone.The key question I ask | | | | Playing with the cats and spending time with |
| myself is, "how important is it"? I use | | | | my husband are the priorities. At least one |
| short- and long-term lists to achieve my | | | | nap |
| daily and weekly goals. I've found that | | | | |
| writing down "relax", "play" and "exercise" | | | | I might even do some laundry and cleaning in |
| remind me to take the time that I need for | | | | between.It all depends on what my spirit |
| myself.Work and CommutingThe average person | | | | guides me to do.Linda Blatchford is an |
| may spend at least 60 hours per week working | | | | experienced editor/proofreader an writer and |
| outside the home and commuting. I've begun | | | | Web designerchic at She has a Basic Web |
| listening to audiobooks during my commute and | | | | Design Certificate and is hungry for new Web |
| doing errands during my lunch hour. This | | | | knowledge. She is currently working on three |
| increases the time I have during the week to | | | | Websites; proofing her recently completed |
| do household chores or freelance work for | | | | book, "Cats Are People Too"; learning to make |
| clients or updating Web sites.FocusIf you are | | | | beaded jewelry and other craft projects and |
| not doing a project that involves | | | | increasing her knowledge of |
| multitasking, focus on the task at hand and | | | | spirituality.Linda loves chocolate, cats, ice |
| see it through to completion. For example, | | | | cream, laughing, crafting and shopping.Linda |
| while I read incoming newsletters/ ezines, | | | | is a member of the Society for Technical |
| it's very easy for me click on Web links that | | | | Communication, the National Association of |
| take me off into the adventures of Web Design | | | | Women Writers and listserves for Chicago |
| and copywriting and other interests.Don't do | | | | Women in Technology, copywriters and writers |
| this => I have learned that if I get on the | | | | and spiritual ideas.Linda Blatchford |
| computer after 9 PM, I won't get off until | | | | |
| after midnight, and this woman needs her | | | | Etailer, Web Designerchic, Writer |
| beauty sleep! I try to cut myself some slack | | | | |
| on the weekends.Or this => I can also get | | | | LinorStore. |