Women who are juggling a family and home while trying to progress in the business world usually end up exhausted by the end of the week feeling defeated because balls dropped and “something or someone” got neglected. How do you effectively balance and manage your career with the rest of your life?

1. Spousal and family buy in- Just as you would not pursue a new project at the office without the support of your board or your manager; getting the buy-in of your family before taking on anything new or time consuming is equally important. This allows your support to rise up to the challenge when you need extra time at the office or even come up with information that can help you accomplish your task.

2. “Where you’re at is where you are”…Sure, it may not be great grammar, but its true statement none the less. BE PRESENT. If you are at home, be at home, involved and tuned into what’s going on around you. If you are at the office, you have to forget about the laundry and report cards. You owe it to your family and your business to give them your undivided attention.

3. Create a “To-Stop” list. We are acquainted with the “to-do” list, but what small things can you stop or restructure to make the best use of your resources and time? For example, try not opening your e-mail in the first hour you are at the office. Log in if you must, but take at least an hour to perhaps return a phone call you need to make, go over your schedule for the day and finish any left over projects/assignments from the previous evening. At home, you can stop listening to news-talk radio when you have a family member in the car. Use the time to talk to them instead. If alone, call your parents, siblings or friend. Put them on speakerphone and listen to what’s been going on with them and ask relevant questions. Small changes yes, but they can make the world of difference in getting things done at the office and keeping in touch with those who mean the most to you.

4. Take care of you! New York Times best selling author, Joyce Meyer stated in her book “Look Great , Feel Great” :

“I often see people who routinely ignore their basic needs. The only thing that gives them meaning is doing things for others…Martyrs end up bitter. And once the body breaks down … it becomes increasingly hard to serve anyone.”

We have to make an extra effort to ensure that our needs are being met. Eating healthy, getting sleep, exercise, taking a daily vitamin and drinking water are ways to take care of your body. Mentally, we need to remain stimulated. If you are the smartest person in your circle, then your circle is way too small. You must keep things and people around you that push you and know more than you. Emotional health can be improved by reevaluating toxic relationships or habits.

5. Design a family vision statement. Even if you are a family of one, an annual statement that explains the goal of your family will keep major decision-making easier. For example, you want a new car, but the vision of the family for the year is to pay more toward the mortgage. Whereas you may need another car for transportation, you may quickly determine budget-wise that a new car does not line up with the vision for this year and for balance, we will get a pre-owned car and stick to the plan. Corporations commit to making a mission statement for their company. They purpose to have targets, goals, and projects mapped out each year. Take the time to organize your corporation both at home and at the office.

In order for a juggler to be effective, he has to know what’s ahead. He has already made preparation for how many balls he’ll be working with. He gets his rhythm, the balls fly and in the end, he catches them all. As you begin to take these small steps, your work and your life will begin to fly effectively and in the end with patience and wisdom you too will catch them all.