As the Labor Day long weekend approaches, it unofficially tells us that end of summer will soon be here. Many gather for a fun weekend with family and friends, others prepare for schools begin or use the three-day weekend for a last minute catch-up on work and/or personal things “to do’s” before the season concludes.

No matter what group you think you belong to, here are seven practical questions to reflect upon during the upcoming Labor Day long weekend or for that matter, on any quiet Sunday afternoon.

• Not spending enough time with family and friends? This is a quite common regret for many of us that are overwhelmed by life’s demands, constantly busy and unable to enjoy or appreciate the present moment. It is never too late to plan for more quality time with family and friends.
• Kids going back to school? While young children going to school require a change from the July and August routine, school is not just about studying and home work but making friends and learning so many new skills.
• Too many extra hours at work, avalanche of daily emails, new added responsibilities, new projects and sudden change of priorities? It is time to have one-on-one meetings to organize and achieve better life-work balance while also aiming for smart work with focus on improved productivity and quality.
• Took your vacation this summer but frustrated with the continuous non-stop emails and texts? Time to plan for better teamwork and organization or for finding and promoting a reliable Assistant Manager if you are a Manager.
• Had a great summer vacation but returned to find a very long VISA bill? Time to check into a banking line of credit which should offer a more reasonable interest rate. A mini vacation budget will also contribute to a more enjoyable vacation, alas, for the next vacation.
• As an Executive or a Manager, the fourth quarter is always important. Check where you and your team stand with the year’s objectives. If you are ahead, celebrate the year-to-date achievements and target staying the course. If you are behind, re-tool, re-vise and adjust with a new game plan to close any gap or shortfall.
• Hit with the “blues” that summer is over? Too much thinking about winter and snow? Hey... remember that there is a beautiful Canadian Fall between summer and winter. Stunning colors, charming nature, and wonderful places to visit and explore. When winter comes and if you do not ski, why not try to learn skating or curling?

Just like a car, “Life Work Balance” needs frequent maintenance and adjustments. The phrase “work to live, not live to work” serves as a reminder to regularly prioritize life and discover a healthy life-work balance. Labor Day is a good reminder.

Words 460 BLOG Life – work balance needs frequent maintenance + adjustments