How to achieve work-life balance

Work and life balance... It's a hot topic for many. Ever since I started my business in 2008, it's changed my life entirely. There was no longer 9 to 5 gig where you can check out at 5pm and forget about everything till next morning. But I've enjoyed my new daily fun full of research, discoveries and learning, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Who knew that working 18 hours a day would be more enjoyable then working 8 hours for someone else. But it is true. When you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work.... but...

Fast forward 7 years and 2 kids later. Work and life balance are slowly becoming a nagging issue. Tackling roles of being a perfect mom and a perfect business owner slowly became more challenging than I've ever thought. It feels that one or another role is suffering at any given time. While I work from home, I can't play Minecraft with my 7 year old and can't hold my 1 year old on my lap, feeling guilty. And while I am playing with my kids, I feel guilty that a huge number of emails are still waiting their reply. Or maybe I am being too demanding of myself to be perfect in all areas? I am sure a lot of moms can relate.

So recently I've came across a Blog post by Richard Branson addressing this very issue and I've decided to take steps to prioritize my life and allocate time that would be for my business and time for my family life. And no guilty feelings, no matter what. (I think this one would be the hardest to master) In the current technology, when everyone can be available at any given time, interruptions are piling up and as a result it feels like being pulled in hundred different directions, without getting actually anything done. This is something that has to change, before I find myself burned out.

One thing that really strikes me being said by Mr. Branson is  "in business, to combat burn out we all need to add another bullet point to our growing to do lists – ‘to be’." What? Frankly, I've forgot about how 'to simply be' many years ago. But the statement resonated with me a lot. I don't remember when was the last time, I just stopped for a minute or so and just enjoyed the moment, without my mind racing 100 miles per minute and hands doing a few things at the same time. Have you tried to just stop yourself in your tracks and just enjoy the smell of the flowers or blooming trees, or the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore, or just the feel of warm sun rays on your skin?

I am trying to do it now, but wait... my mind is still racing with same old, 'wait I still need to do...' :) It's not so easy to switch off all the deadlines and urgent must do's, but enjoying life should be just as important. We are 'human beings' not 'human doings' and Mr. Branson suggests to start acting like that. What a great saying, don't you think?

Lesson of today: Take the time to appreciate the fruits of life. At the end of the day, life is for living; and living is about health and happiness. Remember the to-do list, but don't forget the to-be list. Go on, get out there and enjoy yourself. Just be. (Richard Branson)