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Self-improvement tips help
strike successful life balance

With today’s frantic life pace, working professionals are hungry for self-improvement tips to strike a healthy and successful life balance. This column focuses on just that! In this issue, I’ll share some simple tips to better balance your career and life activities.

First, forget the traditional roles assigned to men and women. Lines are increasingly blurred in the current work and domestic reality. Throwing these old stereotypes out the door can benefit almost everyone. Negotiate household tasks with the goal of “who can most easily do what and when?” vs. “you’re the woman and so you’ll cook” or “you’re the man and so you’ll mow the lawn.” These outdated labels cloud family decision-making.

Adopt realistic expectations for yourself and family members. There are only so many hours in the day for work and personal responsibilities; simplify your life and cut out the activities that add little value. Also, when communicating your expectations to others, be specific. Avoid saying “you need to take out the trash.” Instead, say “every Sunday night by 9 p.m. the family needs you to collect the trash from every room in the house and set it outside in the garbage can.” Then, heap on the positive praise when others chip in.

Invest in your sanity! If you can afford the cruise insurance and it will put your mind at ease, do it. Take weekend getaways to clear your head and to relax with your family or friends. Hire someone to help clean your house to lighten the household chores. Your sanity is worth it.

Finally, planning ahead and remaining flexible and creative, as well as choosing to exhibit a positive attitude, are key components to enjoying balance in life. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping-stone to the optimist.”

Dr. Lisa A. Burke is an LSUS associate professor of management and interim chair of the Department of Management and Marketing. She is available to conduct workshops and seminars on a variety of management and marketing topics, including customer service and stress reduction. She may be contacted at 797-5185 or lburke@lsus.edu.