7-16-10 More Musing on Balance

Earlier this week (and other earlier posts), I talked a little about the need for the executive to have balance in his/her life (7-12-10 Hard-Core Business Person vs. Artsy-Fartsy) . My pondering of the subject continued as I was reading one of the many magazines to which I subscribe -- Real Simple. (You can find out more about it at www.realsimple.com if you are interested).

Anyway. At the start of every issue, they have a “question of the month” to which readers respond. This month’s question fits in nicely with the whole idea of balance. They asked, “If you were suddenly given a free day this summer, how would you spend it? Imagine 24 glorious hours with zero obligations.”

Interesting concept, eh? The readers’ answers were are varied as the personalities that exist around the globe. One said she would spend it on her motorcycle. She said, “You know how happy a dog looks when he hangs his head out the window of a car? That’s how I feel on my bike.” Outstanding. Others suggested things like: floating on an inner tube, putting family photos in albums, visiting a best friend, recreating a past adventure, reading, etc.

It was fascinating to read. And it was invigorating to imagine what I would do. Yeah, I know, I’m retired so I have that luxury almost every day. I wish that I had taken that luxury of having obligation-free days when I was still working.

With cell phones, Blackberries, families, work, and other “to do” items, it is definitely tough to find an obligation-free day. So maybe you start small. Instead of laying your Blackberry next to you on the end table while you watch tv in the evening --- but it in a drawer somewhere and ignore it for a few hours. Or instead of using a free afternoon off to run errands, take the time to go to the art museum or take your kids to the zoo. If you are creative, I’m sure that you can carve out at least a few obligation-free hours each month.

And more difficult that finding the time? Turning off the guilt you will likely have when you ignore the obligations. But, it is well worth it because you come away from that time recharged and ready to take on old and new obligations.

So enjoy your obligation-free time!

Cheers!