Everyday life is full of ups and downs! If only life were as fun as when I once played on the see saw in the park as a child I hear you say! I am sure you could easily tell me how busy you are today, struggling to fit all aspects of your life in your ever hectic day trying desperately not to feel exhausted.
As a coach I constantly hear my female clients telling me the same message on a daily basis. Not enough time to do everything you feel you should and how guilty you feel when you cannot support those around you.
My advice on this matter- and this comes from the voice of experience! Put yourself first, learn to become utterly selfish! Now I know some of you are shuddering at this thought, but listen on.....
If you are ok in your world, you are more likely to be in a fit state to help those around you better; starting to make sense now isn't it?
I encourage you to say No more often to more people - and mean it when you say it! Delegate as often as you can, find others to share your load preferably willing volunteers! Set boundaries around your own time and then allocate time for work, family, social and community activity.
Do the things you love most. Then your energy remains high and you can build your own internal coping mechanism for the tasks you are not so keen on (and haven't managed to delegate to others!)
So how come I am the expert on this topic? A few years ago, I worked in a role that I disliked, I had no time to spend with people I loved or liked and sat in endless traffic queues going nowhere fast. I wondered about the real meaning of life as I sat stuck in my car too many times. I did not take good care of myself, ate junk food, got too little sleep and spent too much time driving, worrying and trying to please everyone except myself! I ignored all the warning signals and as a result my health suffered!
My life was stupidly busy, full of activity that drained my energy and my inner faith, so I took a break from the job that exhausted me, I resisted the need to please everyone around me and feel I became a better person as a result.
Now my friends, family, business associates and clients say I am a calmer, more considerate person to have around them. Gone is the snappy person, the one who looked constantly tired, complained all the time and didn't smile enough. Why because I spend less time either on the ground struggling or up in the air on my real life see saw ' except when I choose, it can be fun sometimes to raise yourself to new heights! But for me finding the right balance is the key.
How can you find more balance in each day, so that you have more time to play on life's see saw?
Copyright (c) 2008 Jacqui Tillyard
Some of the toughest decisions in planning a wedding are faced when the guest list is made. Only you and your fianc can decide who to ask to be a part of your special day. The decision-making process does not end here, however. Many options exist when making the guest list, but just as many options exist when choosing the invitations. The following are some of the basic traditional rules of wedding etiquette you may want to remember when preparing their invitations and announcements:
1. Names and titles should be spelled out. The only exceptions are Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Jr.
2. Write out all dates and times in the invitation. The numbers in addresses need not be spelled out, although streets should be. Include the state if the city is not well known.
3. Never under any circumstances, include information regarding your gift registry or desire for monetary gifts. All information regarding gift preference should be passed along by word of mouth. Today, however, it has become acceptable to declare "no gifts" or in lieu of a gift to make a donation to a specified charity.
4. Put response cards and stamped pre-addressed envelopes inside the invitation with any other enclosures. Place this in the inner envelope, and put the inner envelope in the outer one, so that it faces the back flap.
5. Do not seal the inner envelope. Address it simply to "Mr. and Mrs. Jones". Do not use first names, except in the case of children. Even then, they should be listed on a second line underneath their parents names.
6. Envelopes should be addressed in black ink and never typed. Do not abbreviate names or addresses and include the return address centered on the back, near the top.
7. Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding.
8. Mail announcements on the day of the wedding (or soon after) if you are sending out announcements.
Inserting Invitations 1. Insert invitation into the inner envelope along with enclosure card, reply card and any other enclosures. Always remember the front (printed side) of the invitation faces the back side of the envelope, fold down. The tissue that is placed over lettering to prevent smudging may be discarded or left in place.
2. Place the unsealed inner envelope into the outer envelope. The front (addressed side) of the inner envelope faces the back flap of the outer envelope.
Helpful Hints Since most couples do not know a great deal about the process of inviting guests, they are encouraged to keep a few other things in mind: 1. Order invitations four to six months before the wedding. Make sure all details are secured before ordering (i.e. location, date, time).
2. Find a store where the staff will spend enough time with their customers. Deal with people who know what they are doing. Not all people who sell invitations are professionals who know proper etiquette and wording.
3. Get everything - invitations, envelopes, announcements and any supplements - at the same time. Be sure to have an accurate guest count. Order extra invitations and envelopes, because extra orders later will mean extra costs.
4. To save headaches later, you may want to choose programs, thank-yous, printed napkins, place cards and other related items now.
5. Proofread the order form carefully before signing it. Printers will not usually correct mistakes unless you pay for them.
6. Mail invitations six weeks before the wedding (eight weeks if most of the guests are out-of-state or it is a holiday weekend).
7. After the invitations are sent, responses begin arriving immediately. Devise a system to keep track of replies. An alphabetized checklist, index cards, ledger or home computer are all easy ways to keep track of who has and has not responded (keep in mind that statistics show you should only expect a 75 to 80 percent return).
Both Jacqui Tillyard & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jacqui Tillyard has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Cellulite and self improvement and motivation. Jacqui Tillyard is a qualified NLP coach and stress management therapist. She specialises in working with people in high pressure careers and businesses and helps them find solution to their work life balance dilemmas visit. Jacqui Tillyard's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
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