I'm in college taking Business and one of the classes I took had a chapter on balancing your life.

Having a balance is very important. When your life is balanced it creates a better work environment and home-life environment.

When your life is balanced, meaning you work 8 hours a day, you come home to your family, play with the kids, eat dinner and talk to your wife, drink a beer with your buddy from down the road, maybe even work out at the gym, you are balancing time in the areas that need it.

Work, family, pleasure, even spiritual.

When you work 12 or 15 hours a day, you come home from work tired, your cross with the kids, you don't eat dinner and go straight to bed. You know this is wrong, your wife misses you, your children are hurt by your neglect. You become moody and aggravated which shows in your work life and home life. It nags at you which only angers you more. You start making excuses. Somebody has to pay the bills. You think I'll make it up to them on the weekend. The weekend never comes.

Before long, your kids are on drugs and you wonder why they won't talk to you about it. Your teenage daughter is pregnant, your wife is always mad at you and you don't know why, and they are looking to hire someone in your place because your attitude has gotten worse.

Its so hard to maintain a balance. A lot of jobs if you give your best they ask for more. I think people should remember the order of their priorities. Maybe do some planning to keep that balance in tact.

When you balance more you feel better which makes others feel better. You do a better job and get along with other workers a lot better. Your ideas are positive and more creative and logical. Your wife and children are happy and that makes you happy.

Everyone has to have balance. If one side is heavier you could fall off the edge.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Atkins.
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