Ok, it's no secret that lately I've been a little overwhelmed: work, writing, keeping up with Mr. Toolbox and our furry children (yes, cats), exercising, following through on social commitments....it's a lot to handle on any given day. This week has already been especially hard for some reason. In light of that fact, I thought I'd share some of the tools I'm using to help me manage this very delicate balancing act of life. Maybe, some of you could add your own and we can all get a little more insight into how to manage everything.

1. Organize

It goes without saying that having so many responsibilities, interests, goals and commitments takes a very serious degree of organization. Alas, I'm not exactly there yet. But I'm inching closer and closer by the day. As I struggle to create an organizational system that suits my needs (not exactly GTD, but not all that far off) I often stop in at Organize IT, where recently a wonderful article was posted about the 3 Key Rules for Any Organizing System. Once again James (aka Spike) helps me see through all the clutter surrounding organization (ironic, no?) and get down to the basics.

My recommendation with any organization system is to constantly refine it. As I can attest, no system will fit you perfectly from the beginning. You have to adapt yourself and the system to create something that makes sense, is easy to stick with, and does its job (i.e. keeps you focused and on task). Don't expect that you can take a day to read Getting Things Done buy all the necessary materials and (BAM!) you'll be organized. Just like anything, an organization system takes effort to work properly.

2. Clearly define priorities

It always helps to sit down and remember where all your commitments fall in the "grand scheme". In other words, what is most important? Don't let things take an inappropriate tilt. For a while, I was skipping out on my evening "relaxation" time with Mr. Toolbox in order to work on this website. Big mistake! On the list of priorities, he comes before everything (shhhhhhh...don't tell the kitties!). So when I finally sat down and realized that things felt off, I was able to see that my priorities had been skewed. I wasn't focusing on what was most important; I was focusing on what absorbed the most attention.

Priorities reflect your core values and your fundamental beliefs. Don't get sucked into something that demands a lot of time/energy and let that distract you from the things that give your life true meaning. Slow Leadership Blog has several great posts about balance (like this one) so I often find myself stumbling around there for guidance.

3. Eliminate the garbage

Whenever I find myself overwhelmed by life, I take a minute to reflect on the garbage - all the useless junk that takes up my time and energy: things like television and mindless web surfing (yes, I admit it, I like celebrity trash blogs). These are things that don't serve any real purpose. Sure, I like to call them "stress relievers" or "mindless enjoyment". But really, they're just time wasters. When life gets crazy, these are the things to eliminate right away. Don't give them an improper spot on your priority list. Recognize that these things are at the bottom and treat them that way.

4. Eliminate the REAL garbage

It never seizes to amaze me just how much garbage there is in my house. At any given moment, you could hand me a trash bag and I could walk around and find 50 pieces of trash (at least!). And mind you, I don't live in a pig sty. But this is the nature of life in the modern world. Things come in way too much packaging, we collect useless junk from conferences or free giveaways at the gas station, by the end of the day we have handfuls of receipts and notes and gum wrappers. Nothing brings me more pleasure than a good old fashioned Declutter Session. It really inspires productivity and brings a great sense of power and control. After all, the first step to managing your life is managing your space!

Check out the Neat and Simple Blog for more on How Your Clutter Affects You (Whether You Realize It or Not).

P.S. Neat and Simple also has a free e-book about organizing your office! I just sent in my information for it so I'll let you know my thoughts soon...

5. Don't forget yourself

Having a million things to do can make you completely forget about the most important person in your life - YOU. Yes, you're feeling overwhelmed. Yes, life is busy and hectic. But don't forget about taking care of yourself.

I often get so wrapped up in the everyday tasks of life that I forget to do the small things that I KNOW make my life meaningful and more enjoyable. Take time to do those things that give you joy. Tina at Think Simple. Be Decisive. provides a great overview of this concept with her article, "The Secret to Self-loving".

For me, loving myself is all about taking the time to go to the gym (get those endorphins kicking) and time to read fiction (not just informative, educational reading). These 2 things, along with the occasional massage and pedicure, help me take care of me.

Become a part of the discussion! Please share how you balance everything!