WORK LIFE BALANCE

By “C

apta

in Tim

e”

Garla

nd C

oulso

n

REMEMBER YOUR

FIRST JOB?

Work was work - your

own time was play time

Some of us played a little too

hard

Then we got older

Workplaces became leaner

Pressures Grew

We worked harder and

longer

LIFEAnd

somehow work took over our

lives

“WORKAHOLIC” NOT A GOOD THINGLike other – aholics, workaholics need an intervention or a 12 step program

TIME TO TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE!

Captain Time’s Steps to Work/Life Balance

Step 1: Look At Your Work Hours

Do you risk losing your job if you work only the required hours?

Are you required to work overtime or do you just do it?

Is your overtime paid or unpaid?

Review your company’s work and overtime policies

Step 2: Get Help At Work

Remember if your organization is doing more work with less staff this is not your problem

Professional Development: time management training can help you get 3X done

Virtual assistance takes away cumbersome detail work

Step 3: Reduce After-Hour Work Contact

Don’t give them your cell phone number if

possible

Let work calls go to voice mail – reply by email if

needed

Step 4: Flip Your Mental Switch

Have a saying as you leave: “Work Off!”

Step 5: Get Work Stuff Out Of Your Head

• Use “Brain Buckets” - A place to capture work ideas that occur during time off

• Microsoft OneNote – smartphone, desktop, laptop or tablet

Step 6: Stop Your Monkey Mind

• “Work talk jar” - $1 if you talk about work during play time

• Enlist your family’s help to catch you

WORK

Step 7: Check Your Identity

• When people ask who you are, do you introduce yourself by where you work?

• Is that the “real” you?

• Who will you be when you retire?

Work Is Only Your “Secret “ Identity

• Choose another when you leave

Artist

Superhero

Karaoke Queen

Lover

Adventurer

Rock Star

Collector

Dance Diva

Step 8: Treat Time As Valuable Coin

How will you invest it?

Make sure YOU are the one choosing how to spend it

Dump time wasting activities AND people

Step 9: Learn to

Play Again

You Used To Be An Expert On

Play

Then Came School…Play restricted to recess and lunch hour

Then Your CareerAnd usually working through recess and lunch hour

Play Time Tips

• Schedule play time first

26 27 28 29 30 31 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 4 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

M T W T F S S

30 1 2 3 4 5 6

NOVEMBER

Date Nights

Adventure Days

Hobby Afternoons

Friend Meetups

Artist’s Dates

Step 10: Take Vacations!

Getting away helps flip that mental switch

Important to get away to feel fully disconnected from work

When we do, we often just do things that need to be done at home

Many of us don’t take our full vacations

Step 11: Unplug

Manmade stuff is just “1st World Problems”

Nature is real

Turn notifications off on smart phones

Low tech days

Step 12: Get Moving

• Exercise is revitalizing and releases positive endorphins

• Helps you choose more fulfilling activities than just watching TV

Step 13: Restructure Your Life

• Grocery delivery

• Cleaning services

• Personal concierge services

• If on a budget• Exchange services• Cook meals in batches and freeze

(perhaps with friends)• Set up car pools to get kids to extra

curricular activities

Step 14: Stake the Energy Vampires!

• Dump people, activities and things that suck the life out of you

…yes, even family

Step 15: If You Work From Home…Leave!

Have set work times

Turn business phone off after hours

Don’t check business email after hours

Close the office door

Go out for coffee or relaxation

Step 16: Watch Your Volunteer HoursVolunteering is great, but set a schedule and limit so it doesn’t take over

Step 17: Replenish Your ReservoirYou can’t keep drawing from the well – you need to replenish daily

What is the Meaning of Life?

Do your time investments reflect

this?

What is most important to you?

Nobody on their death bed……wished they spent more time in the office

Work/ Life Balance Summary

1. Stop working extra hours2. Get help at work3. No after work contacts4. System for recording work

thoughts after hours5. Flip your mental work switch

to off6. Rein in your monkey mind7. Embrace identity beyond work8. Treat time as valuable coin

9. Schedule play time first10.Take vacations11.Unplug12.Get physical13.Restructure your life14.Stake the energy vampires15.Play outside the home office16.Schedule/limit volunteer

hours17.Replenish your energy and

spirit

Key Point To Remember

Spend it like money – invest wisely

Treat time as valuable

• I offer Time Management coaching and consulting and I work with both individuals and groups

• Contact me for a FREE 20 minute consultation on how I can help

CAPTAINTIME.COM

MORE HELP?