b'WCA EDUCATIONFIVE TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE WORK-LIFE BALANCEHaving it all takes focus By Stephane McShane, Director, Maxim Consulting Group, LLPOne truth that I have discovered over my decades-long career in this industry: This business will take up every spare moment that you feed it. It will devour those seconds, minutes and hours at an insatiable pace. You look up at the clock from your crazy day only to discover that it is 7 p.m. and you still havent left the office.The key to work-life balance stems from a focus on what to do, when to do it and how to do it. Here are five tips to keep you moving in a positive direction.1. Know your 3. Create a buffercurrent life balance needs. between work and home.The truth is, this balanceEnsure a smooth changes all of the time,transition into home life driven by factors that, by theirat the end of the day very nature, are fluid. Kids,by creating a barrier or marriage, relationships, workbuffer. This could be opportunities, leadershipdone during your drive changes, market changes,home where you listen to etc. are all stimuli that maymusic and take the time influence what this balanceto decompress. Perhaps looks like to you in its currenttaking a few moments state. Solicit input from yourwhen you arrive home spouse or significant other andto immediately immerse empower them to share theiryourself into your childs joys and frustrations about thisworld by engaging with balance with you. them about their day or playing with them would work for you. The same can be said with a spouse or significant 2. Identify and eliminate time wasters.other. Remember that any stress or negative energy you are bringing from the office has NOTHING to do with them, nor do they deserve to be affected by it. Enjoy your time at home with them. Time is precious and flies by far too quickly to spend it arguing or angry. Being positive to We all spend time at work on itemsthe ones you love is a learned behaviour that will quickly that are unnecessary.For example, if abecome a great habit if done consistently. Whatever that vendor salesman walks in and wishes tobuffer is, make it a positive spacesomething you can pour chat with you about the weather, or ayour mind and heart into temporarily, to help you bridge job that hasnt become real yet, he isyour two very separate worlds.wasting your time. Think of it this way: if you allow him to waste 30 minutes of your time, who is really going to pay for that? Pay in the emotional and time sense, that is. You are. When the end of the day rolls around and you were wishing you had another half hour to finish what youre doing,READ MORE OF STEPHANE MCSHANES remember who you allowed to take it away from you. Or,INSIGHTS ON HER BLOG ATif you stay even later to get that item done, now who is paying the price for that salesmans waste of time? Yourwww.observationsinhumaneffectiveness.wordpress.com.spouse, significant other, children, friends or yourself. Learn more about Maxim Consulting Group atwww.maximconsulting.com.14 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca'