DEVELOPMENT
Seven steps to
better balance
Reaching the fabled work-life balance is tough. Petris Lapis’ seven
steps will help you devote the time and energy to what really matters
A man riding a horse gallops past. It looks like he
is going somewhere important. A woman beside
the road shouts, “Where are you going?” The man
replies, “I don’t know, ask the horse.” For many
of us, this is the story of our lives as we race to
meet all the competing demands of family, home,
friendships, health and work. Fortunately, there
are some small easy steps we can take to help us
feel more balanced.
Stop being so hard on yourself
It is easy to feel you are making a mess of
everything; you’re not being a good partner,
parent, friend or employee. When you stop the
self judgment and look objectively, you are doing
a better job than you think and with a few small
changes, you can do even better.
1
Put your own oxygen mask on first
There’s a reason flight attendants tell you
to put your own oxygen mask on before helping
others. If you aren’t looking after yourself, it’s
challenging to find the energy to care for those
you love and to give your best at work.
We all know that some things are bad for us
(smoking, drinking, eating poorly, not exercising,
inadequate sleep), but when we get overwhelmed
the gap between what we know and what we do
stretches even wider. Check in with your body and
see what it is trying to tell you about what you eat,
and whether it is getting enough exercise and sleep.
A good night’s sleep rewards you the next day.
When you feel tired and overwhelmed you
inhale the quickest and easiest food you can find
(usually packed with simple carbohydrates and
2
60 Chief of Staff | Issue 2 2019