Do you make New Years resolutions? I gave up making New Year's resolutions years ago. I found that by about March, not only wasn't I on track to attain them, but I had forgotten what they were in the first place. Resolutions, or declarations, without specific, attainable goals AND action steps to achieve them, create a recipe for frustration and personal disappointment.

That said, the approaching New Year is a good time to take a personal inventory of how your lifestyle measures up in terms of work/life balance. Are the critical elements of your life in balance today? Make a list of what matters to you in your life. Include key elements such as: Work/Career, Friendships, Family Life, Spirituality, Leisure Time & Pursuits, Community, Personal Growth/Education, and Health & Fitness. On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with each of these areas? Are you making time for all of the elements of your life that are important to you? Ask yourself questions such as:

• Do you find satisfaction in the work that you are currently performing? Are you optimizing your potential in your position? Do you balance your need to make a living with your need to express your inner passions and utilize your capabilities to their fullest?
• Do you make as much time for family and friends as you would like to?
• Do you schedule regular time with yourself for personal growth and leisure pursuits?
• Do you make your physical and mental health a priority?
• Is spirituality - however you define it - important in your life? Do you make time to get in touch with the spiritual side of your life?

Take an inventory and decide what areas you need to devote more time and energy to. Then ask yourself what specific actions you take in the next month to achieve more balance and satisfaction in your life.

• Could you schedule a half hour of exercise or meditation twice a week during the next month?
• What about making lunch or dinner plans with a friend or family member you haven't seen for a while?
• When was the last time you went to the theatre, a movie, the museum or took a leisurely and scenic drive?
• When did you last block out some time just to do nothing?

Take out your new planner or calendar and make some appointments for next month with yourself for things that will bring more balance to your life. I suggest you write these in ink, just like you would a critical business meeting or appointment with your dentist. While it may be difficult to set out at the beginning of the year to resolve to change your life, it's pretty easy to just schedule a few appointments for next month to get off to a good start.

What is your point of view? Please post your thoughts on the discussion board.

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