by Marisa Castelo

The quest for Work-Life Balance is a perpetual challenge at the best of times. Throw in the seasonal stressors of the holiday, and that elusive sense of balance can become an impossibility for some.

Thoughts of overspending; too much to do; too little time; great expectations become the internal chant that pervades the mind, as we wonder what became of those sugarplum fairies that should be dancing in our heads.

Try saying the words resiliency, mindfulness, conscious choice and selective focus to yourself right now. As you do so… breathe them in. Do you notice how they create a sense of calm? Repeat the word that seems to resonate best for you. Allow yourself to consider what that signifies to you, and how you chose to visualize/conceptualize it. Does this help you imagine what you can do differently this holiday season?

Recognize what is working and what is not. For some, that means planning ahead. For others, it means allowing yourself to accept certain situations, and let go of your resistance. Asking yourself what and how can simplify things. Remind yourself to balance family and solo time, for some it could be more useful, energizing, and beneficial to mix it up and try something new. In any case, be selective, and remember to practice boundaries. Know what it is that you can control.

Some Guiding Principles:

• Build on what is working for you;
• Make time for the important things;
• Relax your standards (Martha won’t know);
• Keep expectations realistic;
• Respond rather than react. Give yourself the space to do so; and
• You can say no.

Marisa Castelo, Counsellor Coordinator, Interlock, E-mail: mcastelo@interlockeap.com

This article was published in the December 2007 issue of BarTalk. © 2007 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.