Work/Life Balance Hacks from Liz Pearce

This is officially the first weekend of summer in my book, and that means I'm thinking about ways to achieve that ever elusive work/life balance.  As a business owner, parent, spouse, etc. that can sometimes be a struggle.  Geek Wire writer Liz Pearce has compiled this list of great hacks for reaching that holy grail of all busy people.

1. Invest in your relationships the way you invest in your 401(k) - Make small, regularly scheduled investments with your spouse, friends, and family.  Have weekly date nights, monthly girls night out, and specific activities with your kids.  Use the same rule of thumb that you use with your dentist or hairdresser: never leave one social appointment without scheduling the next.
2. Pay for services, not stuff - I don't have much of a handbag budget, but I do have a budget for someone to help me with the yard.  You might only have one pair of boots, but you have your administrative tasks contracted out every month with Administrative Business Consulting.  As a rule, try to spend your resources on things that free up time instead of take up space.
3. Treat your home like you do your inbox: get rid of everything you don't truly value - Trying to save every birthday party goody bag toy, outdated magazine, old t-shirt, and random piece of paper adds a small amount of friction to tasks you try to accomplish at home.  And that can add up to a significant emotional burden of guilt when you're trying to spend quality time at home.  Try to get rid of 15 things every single day.  They could be pieces of junk mail or old leftovers in the fridge.  Each little, frequent act of de-cluttering will also lower your stress levels.
4. When it comes to parenting, comparison is the root of all unhappiness - The constant deluge of advice and product recommendations from email lists, blogs, and books can add to your anxiety.  Try to shut most of them out and focus your energy on what is actually going on within your own house.  You can pick puzzles together over more costly lessons, drawing pictures at the kitchen table over elaborate trips to Disneyland, and bowls of warm popcorn while watching a family movie over dinners out.  Quantity time is just as valuable as quality time.
5. Conquer meal planning and you can conquer the world - That question of "what am I going to make for dinner" is a huge stress point in the lives of most working parents.  You may have to run to the store or you just end up picking up fast food.  To cut down on this issue, take one day and and plan your meals for the week.  You can download many helpful one-page planning sheets that then turn in to your shopping list.  This will allow you to go to the store once and not have to think about what you're making for dinner each night.
6. Allow yourself at least one vice - Remember that no one is perfect and allow yourself at least one indulgence for whenever the stress gets to you.  Mine is watching Dr. Who, put it could be chocolate, reading, taking a bath, or whatever makes you feel better and gives you time to recover and get back to your to-do list.

Now that you're armed with some great tips on getting a little calmness back in your life, go out and enjoy the summer!!