How to Know What You Want From Your Life

Failure to properly balance work and family can lead to stress.

Do you dream of business riches but don't want to be tied to the office and miss family vacations, or are you more inclined to work for a moderate salary that allows you to take weekends off from the job? MayoClinic.com warns that people who fail to achieve a balance between life and work have high stress levels. The process of assessing your life goals involves sitting down for a self-appraisal before making commitments in life and at work.

Things You'll Need

• Spreadsheet software or paper and pen
• Highlighter pens

Instructions

1. Make a list of your short-term and long-term business goals. Your goals must have measurable and tangible outcomes. Your short-term business goals should clearly state the immediate tasks and specifically answer how and what your business plan will accomplish. For example, if you wish to start a small business your plans should include the services and products provided, target markets, expected income and the steps necessary to achieve your goals. Long-term goals use the same language and procedures, but take a futuristic view of where you see yourself in five years.

2. Develop a business budget spreadsheet for a typical month using a software program or simply paper and a pencil. Using the same example, if you wish to start your own business you should include expenses for business operations, travel, raw products and materials necessary to operate your company, and funds set aside for the lease or mortgage of a company facility. Note overlapping costs for both business and personal use and include these costs on your business spreadsheet. Include any quarterly, semi-annual or annual business expenses as part of this spreadsheet.

3. Make a list of your personal goals in life. While your business goals mandated tangible outcomes, your personal list should include measurable goals in addition to intangible and philosophical objectives. The descriptions must still provide details, even if the end product is intangible. Sample personal goals include marriage and family plans, and the tangible goods necessary to make your life comfortable.

4. Develop a spreadsheet for your monthly personal expenses. Include expenses for dining out, vacationing and all other items listed on your personal goals list. Rough out a monthly expense for basic living and then add the cost of your personal family life, including any costs for marriage and children.

5. Compare and contrast your lists for your business and personal goals to formulate your life goals. Highlight the most important items from both lists, and then work to balance the costs and earnings by removing personal expenses and reducing work time. Cross out conflicting items as you work to develop a balance between life and work. Do not remove any items permanently from the lists. Use the lists to understand what you want from your life. Update the lists each year and conduct the same evaluation to reshape and update your life and work goals.

References

• MayoClinic.com; Work-Life Balance - Tips to Reclaim Control; May 2010
• PearsonCMG.com: E-Business Plan Tutorial: Business Goals
• Purdue University Extension; How to Use Goals to Achieve Business Success: First Steps for New Entrepreneurs; Christy Lusk, et al.; June 2005
• Pearson Education: Business Goals; 2011
• University of Washington: Set Personal, Academic, and Career Goals
• Canadian Mental Health Association: Mental Health for All - Fact Sheet

Resources

• CNNMoney; Harvard MBAs; John A. Byrne; May 2011
• Mental Health Foundation; Work-Life Balance; 2011
• Microsoft Support: Developing a Spreadsheet App for Windows