Keeping Work and Life in Balance

As self-employed, freelance writers and journalists, chances are you never switch off. When you get a commission, you have to do it sometimes at very short notice to meet the deadline. In particular, you may have to cope with the challenge of juggling family and work demands, trying to maintain a work-life balance, which if not achieved can be extremely detrimental to your physical, mental and emotional health. Most people are interested in a higher quality of life. Life where you have more time for yourself and your relationships, with more energy to invest in emotional, physical and spiritual well-being

Coaching can help you find the work/life balance. As reported by the British Journal of Administrative Management, coaching 'takes a holistic view of the individual' ensuring that work, corporate values, personal needs and career-development are made to work in synergy and not against each other.

Borne out of the competitive pressures of today's economy, as well as the struggle to find balance in the frantic pace of modern life, personal life coaching is now rapidly attracting devotees worldwide. Chief executives, entrepreneurs, professionals, people in career transition and many others grappling with life issues are all turning to this new tool to guide them through life's difficulties and help raise them above the 'fog' to the clear heights of peace and self-satisfaction.

Whilst coaching supports all aspects of life, its ultimate aim is to achieve harmony and balance within the individual. For women this means establishing a work-life balance that satisfies all the levels of emotional and professional needs. It's about working to live, not living to work.

Work-life balance is a self-defined, self-determined state of well-being that a person can reach, or can set as a goal, that allows them to manage effectively multiple responsibilities at work, at home, and in their community; it supports physical, emotional, family, and community health, and does so without grief, stress or negative impact. For those striving to enjoy this type of life, coaching is an indispensable tool.

You can easily recognise when you're suffering from an imbalance. Symptoms such as constantly being tired, feeling like you're running uphill all the time and getting nowhere, feeling like you have no choices, no control; when life seems to be happening to you instead of you feeling that you're managing it; when you can think of more things that aren't getting done than are; when you see more negatives in your life than positives.

Coaching is a powerful, collaborative relationship between the coach and a willing individual, which helps that individual through the process of discovery, goal setting and strategic action-planning to help realise an extraordinary result. It is also a body of knowledge, a technology and a style of relating that focuses on the development of that person's potential.

Most people spend considerable time planning their annual holiday but how much time is spent planning a far more crucial journey, one you don't get a chance to revisit if things don't work out the way you hope? How much time do you spend mapping out where you want to go in life?

Just as Olympic sports men and women rely on their talent, determination and coach to give them the best chance of reaching Gold, your Coach can make you a medallist in life.

In the security of this collaborative alliance with your coach you will reach clarity of purpose, identify goals and develop a plan of action. You will establish an understanding of what is really important to you in life, take charge and realise your priorities. Put simply, coaching is about helping you to create and work towards the grandest version of the greatest personal vision you have; to achieve success - success being the continuous realisation of a worthy goal or ideal.

Gerard's Work / Life Balance Tips

• Have a 'Date Night' with your partner one weekday night a week. Go for a walk together, a meal out and spend time talking together.


• Learn to say 'no' and delegate tasks - make a list of 10 jobs you can delegate and to whom


• Adopt a positive outlook on life and a 'can do' mental attitude


• Set realistic goals, review them regularly and take steps towards them. For each goal, ask yourself how you would feel when you achieve it.


• Appoint a life coach to help you fulfill your objectives and get the balance in your life


• Watch your body language - how you stand and sit will affect the way you feel.


• Don't spend time worrying - it's not a natural human state and solves nothing. Action is an easier and healthier option, so choose it every time.


• Take 15 minutes every day as 'me' time - listen to your favourite CD, have a cup of tea, go for a walk


• Don't undervalue your own worth. Have belief in yourself


• Take control of your own life - otherwise others will control it for you.

Gerard