Last fall a reader emailed me the best new application of our work-life balance tools we’ve discovered in a decade. Putting this new method into practice is exceptionally simple, equally easy and produces immediately inspiring results. Give it a try for a week and I expect you will still be using it when week 52 of this New Year rolls around.
(Average reading time 120 seconds)
In our training sessions we encourage those attending to think of their Big Picture of life in terms of these four relationship areas.
Recently Sarah Hillsdale, who attended such a session seven years ago, emailed me a “thank-you” for the positive difference the tools she learned have made in her life. In addition, she shared a powerful twist on using the four quadrants visual to create a more positive work-life balance every week. After reading her email two months ago I began using this twist and have been struck by its powerful simplicity and immediately satisfying weekly work-life balance results.
We define work-life balance as meaningful daily/weekly achievement and enjoyment in each of the four life quadrants pictured…and we measure it the same way. Not time spent…but did you achieve and enjoy in each of those four relationship areas in the short term and add to their potential over the long term? Here’s Sarah’s lesson that has proven especially effective in being able to answer that question with a definitive “Yes”.
The One Week Plan for Your Life
“The lesson that I have focused on the most is that providing equal time to life’s quadrants does not necessarily mean one’s life is balanced. This has helped me to improve the quality of time I spend with family. For that, I send you a very sincere thanks.”
“Since taking that course, I take a piece of paper each week and draw four quadrants on it.… I write down the things I would like to get done in that week for each quadrant. While I often do not succeed in accomplishing everything, it does give me a chance to see my plan for my life for the week on one page. I now have a notebook dedicated to my weekly quadrants. I evaluate at the end of each week. This tool allows me to reflect on how I actually spent my time and whether or not adjustments are necessary.”
So simple.
And it sounds so obvious. I know there are calendar formats and apps to do this type of thing, but are you using them? Do you have a “plan for your life for this week on one page?” One that consciously connects and helps balance you in and between all four of these work and personal life quadrants? If not, this is so simple to try.
If you walked into my office today you would find a new section on my white board that didn’t exist sixty days ago; key weekly priorities for each quadrant. Here’s what it looked like midway through the second week in December.
I like using the white board as it visually prompts action on my four-quadrant life plan for the week. Additionally, it’s enjoyably satisfying to see the achievement checkmarks as they are completed, and a constant motivation when no check mark resides by a quadrant listing.
Work obviously has numerous routine and unexpected tasks and decisions that can draw you away from your work and personal priorities listed for the week. I have discovered this four-quadrant weekly visual motivates me to stay better connected to those work priorities and not to neglect my personal life objectives. I reinforce those objectives with scheduled times in my calendar.
Sarah noted that looking through her notebook of weekly quadrant priorities made her realize how much she procrastinated. When she is carrying something forward for the fifth week in a row it motivates her to act now. She also realized that she rarely listed anything in the “self” quadrant. This helped her recognize that it was okay to do something for herself and “by taking better care of me, I am more motivated to accomplish the tasks I have listed in the other quadrants.”
Like Sarah I’ve found using the quadrants in this way enables me to evaluate how I spent or didn’t spend my time during the week and whether or not adjustments are necessary. As an example, it was typical for me to fit only two or three of my physical “self” activities in a week. Now I am consistently doing one and sometimes two every day. This four-quadrant written visualization for each week has improved my achievement and enjoyment levels with my family, friends and at work as well. I expect it will do the same for you.
So simple, why not try it for this upcoming week? Fill the New Year with more achievement, enjoyment and balance by creating a plan for your life…one week at a time.
Have a Wonder Full 2019!
Jim Bird
Publisher
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Quotes
“I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.”
“Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be felt if you don’t set any condition.”
“To be alive, to be able to see, to walk, to have houses, music, paintings – it’s all a miracle. I have adopted the technique of living life miracle to miracle.”
Arthur Rubinstein (January 28, 1887 – December 20, 1982) was a Polish American classical pianist. Many regard him as the greatest Chopin interpreter of his time.
We must achieve in order to live and we must enjoy to make the living and achieving worthwhile. Along with your achieving, find things to consciously enjoy every day.