Frequently friends and acquaintances greet me by saying, “you must be busy”. To be fair, this is a reasonable statement as I run a coaching business and teach in my career coaching school. But it is not accurate and, more importantly, it conflicts with the way I approach my life.

I have long known I need a balance between work and downtime. I get more done in short bursts of effort than working all day long. Additionally, I conserve my time, saying no to things that are not fun or do not support my goals. The result is a harmonious blend of obligations and free time.

Of course, this does not always work out. Life will deliver intense days with back-to-back appointments. It’s rare, but it does happen.

Overall, the result is a life that is not busy. Rather it is full, productive, and very blessed. Today is a good example of how time balancing and prioritizing can pay off.

Sadly, our dog Joy had a very intense surgery yesterday to repair a torn cruciate in her knee. The procedure involves breaking her leg and re-aligning it. Today she cannot walk unassisted and is dealing with a tremendous amount of pain.

My husband and I are committed to being by her side 24/7 through the 8-to-12-week healing period. Thus, I am five feet away from her enclosure right now, sharing my thoughts with you. Concurrently, I am a comforting presence for our beloved pet.

Having more to do than you have time for is part of life. Yet, I invite you to consider swapping the word “busy” for something more positive or within your control. This simple mind-shift settles the storm and allows you to plan your day more effectively.



That said, have a creative, prolific, industrious, and fruitful day!