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You Can
Work in Residence Life and Have Life Balance Too!
By Michele Collins-Davies,
Professional Certified Coach
What is
life balance? Is it responding to all of your staff’s needs, resident’s
concern’s, returning all phone and e-mail messages and having enough
time left for some quiet time with your partner or friends? Maybe it’s
exercising or simply getting a full night’s sleep. Is it waiting
for the residence halls to come so you can get some rest and down time?
Each one of you has a different answer and definition of life balance
that is unique to you.
What I know
is constant about life balance for each of you is that life balance is
ever changing. It is also a "choice"! What do I mean by choice?
We choose what we will and will not do. Those choices move us more toward
or away from balance in our lives. So, to be at choice rather than in
reaction to life is a way of creating more balance in your life. Choosing
what you will and will not do. The essence of balance is discriminating,
saying Yes or No.
Below is
the Wheel of Life diagram to assist you in becoming more aware about what
life balance looks like for you. The eight sections in the Wheel of Life
represent different aspects of life. Using the center of the wheel as
0 and the outer edge as 10, rank your current level of satisfaction in
each life area by drawing a straight or curved line to create a new outer
edge. The new perimeter of the circle represents your current Wheel of
Life.
Directions: The eight sections in the wheel of life represent balance. Regarding the center of the wheel as 0 and the outer edge as 10, rank your current level of satisfaction in each life area by drawing a straight or curved line to create a new outer edge. The new perimeter of the circle represents the your Wheel of Life.
Once you
have completed your Wheel of Life take a look and notice what areas are
working well for you and which are areas you would like to give more attention.
My request is that you identify one area that you would like to increase
your current level of satisfaction in. Once you identify it ask yourself,
what is one step I can take to increase my satisfaction in this area of
my life? What is one thing I can do over the next week to create more
balance in this area of my life? Then begin to do those things you identified
so that you can create more balance.
About eight
years ago I worked as the Director of Student Development for a college
in New Jersey. I worked many hours and had a great deal of responsibility.
I found myself experiencing chronic neck pain and tendonitis in my shoulder.
I had MRI’s taken, shots of cortisone injected into my shoulder,
physical therapy and received chiropractic adjustments. Nothing was alleviating
the pain. A nursing student who attended the college I worked for referred
me to a holistic healer. The healer reminded me that I needed to connect
to my heart’s desires and honor them in my life. Once I began doing
just that my neck and shoulder pain quickly disappeared.
What was
the process of connecting to and honoring my heart’s desires? I began
the process by getting a journal and creating a list of my priorities.
Then I made sure they were included in my life. I committed to actively
moving toward them in some way each week. For example, one of my heart’s
desires was to read books more often. What I chose to do was watch one
hour less of television and read during that time instead. It also forced
me to look at saying "no" to TV in order to read.
To honor
your heart’s desires begin with there simple steps:
Step one: Write your heart’s desires/priorities on paper.
Step two: Rank them in order of importance.
Step three: Choose the one that speaks the loudest to you andidentify three steps you can take to move toward it.
Step four: Consider what you may need to say "no" to in order to say "yes" to this choice. Write these down.
Step five: Begin doing what you’ve chosen.
Step six: Acknowledge yourself for taking good care of yourself and for the little and important steps you are taking in your life.
There is
an inner space in each one of us that can help us stay centered and balanced.
It is a place where we are clear about what we must have in our lives
in order to feel fulfilled. It also lets us know when a choice does not
feel right for us. It is a place of being aware of our heart’s desires.
By doing this exercise you will move toward more balance in your life.
Allowing
your self to take time for yourself is a big commitment and can be a life-
changing one. I encourage you to live your best life now. Today is a great
day to begin. Congratulations on being willing to consider creating more
of what you want in your life!
Coaching
works for clients by helping them to attain results and sustain life-changing
behavior in their lives and careers. It addresses the whole person, with
an emphasis on producing and uncovering learning that leads to fulfillment,
balance and more effective processes for living.
About the Author
Michele Collins-Davies is a life coach whose gift is in supporting individuals and organizations in creating more balance and effectiveness. Michele has a BA degree in Psychology and an MA in Counseling. A Professional Certified Coach, as designated by the International Coach Federation. She worked as a student services administrator in higher education for thirteen years and is founder of her own company, LIFE Coaching. Her web site address is www.life-coaching.net, e-mail is michele200@juno.com, and phone is 609-294-9144.