Have Balance During the Holidays. Having a balanced life is one of my priorities in my life and I am on a quest to find it on a daily basis. As we prepare for the Holiday season, keep in mind that you need to have balance in all you do so you can enjoy the most beautiful season of the year. Here are some tips to remind you to stay in balance:
1) Start shopping a little at a time within the next few weeks so you don't have to shop for everything on the last weekend right before Christmas.
2) If you have little kids to shop for (nieces and nephews), ask the parents what the kids would like (i.e. ask for specific sizes for clothes and what brands or names of toys). This will help you save time when you go shopping.
3) If you are planning to have family over for Christmas, start preparing your home in advance. You can start cleaning different sections of your home a few days prior to the gathering. This will help you not be overwhelmed the day you are having people over.
4) Remember to also have balance in how much you spend. Don't feel guilty if you cannot buy a lot of presents or spend a lot of money this year. Everybody has been affected by the slower economy and people are not expecting others to spend a lot of money.
5) Most of all, don't forget the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. It is to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ who came into the world to save us and to give us life. He cares about everything we do and wants us to live a successful and balanced life too.

Dear Friends,

I decided to start a blog to connect with other working women who are in search of work and life balance. I will be posting interesting topics that will help you achieve the life balance you desire. These are tips I have used in my journey of life as a full-time working mother, author, and executive to help me balance my daily life. Below is the first one of many to come. I hope it will help you in some way.

Balance Your Life One Season at a Time

Fall is usually a very busy season as we wind down from summer and start our next set of activities. In the midst of it all, we tend to forget to take care of ourselves and we get out of balance. Below are some tips to help you stay in balance:

Establish your priorities: This way, as you have the opportunity to get involved in new things, and before you say yes to new commitments, you can ask yourself the question: Does this new activity/task/commitment fall under my priorities in life? If the answer is yes, then ask yourself another question:
What can I take out of my life in order to add one more thing? If the answer is nothing, don’t commit as this new activity may through you out of balance.
It’s okay to say no: Learn to say “no” and be okay with that. You have the right to decline and not feel guilty about it.
Make time to exercise: Walking is one of the best exercises there is and it doesn’t cost any money — only time. I love to jog but right now I’m choosing to walk with my husband instead. This way, I’m spending time with him and I’m getting my exercise done at the same time. Make a goal to exercise at least three times per week doing something you like. If you don’t make the time and schedule it, it won’t happen. We have to take care of our bodies so they last and we can accomplish all we need to get done.
Don’t forget your friendships: Make time to call or go to lunch with a friend at least once a week. It is refreshing to go out with a friend and just talk and catch up with each other’s lives. If you don’t nurture your relationships, they will eventually go away.