Career Corner continued

Here are Some Tips to Get You Started:

Assess what is important — Honestly assess your values. What do you enjoy? What do you want to achieve? Be sure to account for all your life roles. Determine how to best allocate your personal resources and energy. Focus on what your priorities are — not what others think they should be.

Set goals and establish a career plan — Explore your options and set incremental milestones. Then, take action; even small steps move you forward. Review your plan regularly and make adjustments as needed.

Organize — You will be more productive if you have a system in place to streamline work pro- cesses and life events. Keep a daily to-do list. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go.

Delegate — Solicit the help of others. Outsource activities that others can do.

Be adaptable — Allow yourself more flexibility when arranging your personal schedule. Accept the possibility that the lawn may get cut on Wednesday instead of Monday. Simplify when- ever possible.

Learn to say no — Limit choices. Recognize that you can’t do it all. It’s okay to respectfully say no. Do you need to attend every family event and all work seminars? Don’t commit out of guilt or false sense of obligation.

Nurture yourself — Maintain your energy! Carve out time for fun. Invoke humor. Set time aside for activities that you enjoy. Eat healthy. Add physical activity to your daily routine.

Find quiet time — Put white space on your calendar, and allow time for reflection, solitude, and clarity.

Use vacation time — Recharge your batteries! Take the time you are allotted by your employer to rejuvenate and relax. You may be surprised by the energy you have when you return to work.

Take advantage of employer options — Ask your employer about flexible scheduling or telecommuting. Use tuition and health promotion benefits. By increasing your control, you can diminish your stress.

Improve your work environment — Flexible schedule arrangements not an option? Look to enhance other aspects of the job. Strengthen working relationships with colleagues or seek to learn something new.

Bolster your support systems — Enlist trusted friends and relatives to help out when family and work conflicts arise. Keep a list handy of phone numbers and email addresses to access if needed.

Strike a Balance!

Many working adults aspire to succeed in the workplace without forgoing their personal lives.

Finding the right equilibrium between personal and professional roles can be a challenging but worthwhile endeavor. Your time is valuable! Make sure the way you spend your time aligns with your life goals, and you will be well on the way to achieving a successful and satisfying work-life balance.

Related Resources

Workplace Values Assessment, Arizona State University http://career.asu.edu/S/CareerPlan/SelfDiscovery/ValuesAssessment.htm

Work-life Balance Quiz, Quintcareers.com http://www.quintcareers.com/work-life_balance_quiz.html

Goal Setting and the Career Planning Process, Dawn Rosenberg McKay http://careerplanning.about.com/od/settinggoals/a/setting_goals.htm

The Future of Work-Life Balance and Workplace Flexibility, New America Foundation http://workforce.newamerica.net/events/2010/the_future_of_workplace_flexibility

Tip Sources

www.mayoclinic.com, www.cioinsight.com, and Goal Setting and the Career Planning Process, Dawn Rosenberg McKay

Access this article, and many additional career-related links at the Excelsior College Career Center at www.excelsior.edu/career. Questions or comments about this article? Contact Maribeth Gunner Pulliam, Career Services Coordinator, Office of Online Education and Learning Services.