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