Living in a world that keeps changing almost faster than time itself, most of you are aware of the time squeeze to get things done. The pressures at work can easily carry over into personal life and vise versa. Parents, especially, find themselves drained physically, mentally, and emotionally at the end of a day.

When you have many things to do running around in your mind, you can easily feel overwhelmed. To remedy this, it is important to strive for balance and to stay focused. However, sometimes these two goals are in conflict.

You may have experienced times when you focused on something and lost your balance. This can happen when there are too many things to do and not enough time to get everything done. At this point, some of you may make lists, which can be helpful.

In addition to lists, the following plan will help you consider what needs to be done and how each item is tied to your values:

• Set up a 4-cell grid.

• The two cells across the top (left to right) are labeled “Urgent” and “Not Urgent”.

• The two cells going down (top to bottom) are labeled “Important” and “Not Important”.

• Place all of the things you have to do into one of these cells.

Filling in these four squares helps you establish your priorities according to your values, be more focused, and feel more in control of your life. Now you are ready to look at how to increase the feeling of balance in your life.

When there is not enough time to accomplish as much as you had hoped to do in a day, it is even more important to select one or two of the following suggestions to create a feeling of inner balance:

1. Count your blessings by writing down three things you are grateful for and why (because) at least three times a week. It helps the most when you are having a tough day.

2. Practice “savoring” the joys of life instead of “stewing” on problems. Notice an increase in energy when you are savoring even momentary pleasures.

3. Spend time and energy with family and friends. Strong personal relationships bring a high level of satisfaction with life.

4. Write a gratitude letter to someone whom you are grateful for in your life. If possible, visit the individual and read the letter to him or her. If a visit is not possible, you can email it, call the person or send it by mail. Notice how you feel after doing this.

5. Take care of yourself physically. Even 10-15 minutes of exercise and/or meditation can release tension. Get plenty of sleep, and make healthy food choices to have the energy that you need.

6. Be sure to find time to laugh and catch yourself smiling.

Hopefully, choosing to do some of these ideas for balance will be renewing, increase your energy, and help you focus.

In addition, the 4 square grid will help you to prioritize the things you need/want to accomplish. This clarity helps energize and motivate you to make the most of your available time. It also increases your confidence in the choices you are making. What choices are you going to make that will help you focus and keep your balance?