Hello and welcome to Part 4 of our series on Work-Life Balance.
We’ve looked at work… and life , explored how to achieve balance, and highlighted some ways to handle stuff that scares the wotsits off you.
Today it’s time to think about what will inspire you as you create and maintain your particular balance. You don’t have to go it alone, there’s a world of support out there! What will you go looking for? Who do you know that will listen and support you? What can you read or watch?
So here’s my personal top 5 work-life balance resources. You may find them useful too, or they may serve as a taster of what’s out there. Main thing is – whatever you think might help you, go find it!
Prioritising
If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff you need to do or you’re struggling to decide what to do first, Stephen Covey does a brilliant demo on how to manage your time and prioritise. It makes me chuckle, it’s a simple concept and it’s a fundamental for balance:
Do the big rocks first
i.e. Ensure you make space for the important stuff, then fit the day to day bits & bobs in.
Lead your self
Clear motivation and knowing why you want what you want can do wonders for getting you into action. Are you clear about your reasons? Simon Sinek does a wonderful talk on getting into action, whether you’re leading your self or others. The concept is sooooo beautifully simple – and so powerful.
Incidentally, the TED talks website is a rich source of pretty much everything inspriational, so if it’s new to you, it’s definitely worth a look around.
It’s the way you think
How you think about work is just as much a part of your balance as making practical changes. Fish! is a true story about fishmongers in Seattle finding a way to make their work more fun. It’s part true, part fable and is packed with simple principles to follow.
Fish! By Stephen C Lundin, Harry Paul & John Christensen
Strengths
Do you know what your natural strengths are? Are you making full use of them at work and in the rest of your life? Sometimes the things that we are best are at the hardest to see, because they come so effortlessly. This little book and it’s associated on-line profiling tool will help you check your talents out and understand ways that you can utilise them.
Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
The work you were born to do
If you’re seeking work that you love, work that means more to you than just a way to earn money, take a look at the Nick Williams work. In particular:
The work we were born to do by Nick Williams
The business you were born to create by Nick Williams
What else would inspire and support you? Who can you talk to, listen to, what else could you learn, watch or read about?
Tip #7 Surround yourself with whatever supports and inspires you
Happy browsing!
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