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If there could ever be such a thing as work/life balance I'm quite off balance lately. As you may have noticed, my weekly email didn't go out on Thursday. That's because my balance scale shifted to family. I am spending time with Megan, my youngest daughter who is in town for her baby shower. I tried, but writing the email just wasn’t going to happen. (For photos of the shower, see below.)
Work/life balance seems to be the buzz word these days, but seriously—can we really achieve it? As my dear friend and speaker Bruce Wilkinson says, "Whoever said they had work life balance must have been drunk or high." I wonder if any parent of a newborn ever thought about taking a break from the intense parenting stage to go to work more often because they are spending too much time on family? Or would an Executive who needs to meet a tight deadline to land a high paying client say, “I can't spend time on this because it would put me out of balance”? Of course not. I would like to propose another term for work/life balance. I prefer the term work/life seasons. This is truly how life is. There are seasons when the kids are small and evenings and weekends are filled with activities, seasons when work requires our evenings and weekends and there are seasons when we’re sandwiched between aging parents and growing children. Life happens and we suddenly have to adjust our priorities. In reality, we only have one life, not two. Forget balance and just enjoy the season, being present in the moment. Click here for photos of our current season. Note the Jr. photographer (that's our 8 year old Granddaughter Aubreigh) The Now to Wow guide is a great way to re-focus and make some positive adjustments. Download the FREE Now to Wow Guide and start 2018 off right. The guide will help you get focused for the new year so you can take advantage of opportunities that lead to your success. Watch for more emails coming your way in 2018 with tips to help you grow your business and become the best version of you possible. Be Well, Angela Decoteau (pronounced Deck uh toe) Do you know anyone who ISN’T stressed? My goal in this 2-part series is to open your eyes to the cause and effects of all those stressors that sometimes make our work environment feel like a roller coaster. Some of those stressors are: fear of being laid off, pressure to perform, long hours, lack of control over workload and/or salary, or harassment.
Any job can have stressful elements, even if you love what you do. And not all stress is bad: it can motivate you to work harder and better. But even "good stress" can become overwhelming and lead to burnout. If you’ve noticed any of the following, it’s probably time to take a step back: · Trouble concentrating, sleeping, communicating · Using alcohol or drugs to cope · Feeling apathetic, irritable, depressed, anxious, overwhelmed · Home life and relationships suffering According to the 2017 American Psychological Association Stress in America Report, stress levels have increased for the first time in ten years. When stress exceeds our ability to cope, it becomes harmful to our mind and body, as well as our job performance. Chronic stress produces high levels of the primary stress hormone cortisol, which can disrupt nearly all of your body’s processes. It can alter immune system responses and suppress the digestive system, reproductive system and growth process. Studies have also linked stress to obesity, Alzheimer’s, depression, memory impairment and more. Don’t get stuck there! Stay tuned for my follow-up article on suggestions for coping in a stressful work environment. Be Well, Angela Decoteau (pronounced Deck uh toe) |
AuthorRenowned Speaker and Business Coach Angela Decoteau. 
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