Is life just speeding by, leaving you out of control? People talk about needing to find “balance”, but I think they are really seeking to get their life under control.

More and more I realize what a hoax the idea of achieving “balance” in life is. I think we just need to fess up and realize that the idea of “balance” is a mirage! Many a BusinessMom has more of a “free falling” sensation than one of “balance”. Certainly for the BusinessMom there is little hope of ever even achieving the sacred state of balance, much less maintaining it. So, what’s the answer? I believe it is a simple word change that will shift your being (if not your world) from seeking “balance” to seeking “RHYTHM”. You see, girlfriend, balance just ain’t an easy thing to even achieve, and it’s darn near impossible to maintain.

Just imagine yourself on a high wire. You are already feeling the tension right? I know! I watched a PBS show recently about circus performers, aerialists in particular. Watching them confirmed my conviction that BALANCE is not an easy task. It put me on edge just watching them. I could feel the fear of falling coming right through my TV screen.

So, what about RHYTHM? Well, for starters it is a natural part of a woman’s DNA. We are cyclic beings. We are happy and we are sad, we move with lightening speed to get things done and then can sit quietly and read with a child. We are good at shifting gears. How can you use this concept to help simplify your life? Easy. Just watch for the ten zillion things that you do with repetition . . . cooking, cleaning, shopping, and probably a dozen or more business activities. Working all these into your day can be a challenge. They don’t take equal amounts of time and likely aren’t even in importance. But, none the less they need doing.

Here’s my tip. I didn’t “invent” it, but I have modified it to work for a BusinessMom. In the evening before bed (or first thing in the a.m. if you are an early riser) make a short list of 6 most important things for your day. You might put them in a paper planner or on a note pad beside the bed. It really doesn’t matter, but they DO have to be written down somewhere, somehow. Now here’s my tweak…list 2 things to do for your family/home, 2 for your business, and 2 for YOU!!! This will help you to narrow down the multitude of possible activities for the day and (hopefully) keep you more on track.

Best of all, it gives you a realistic focus on the key areas of your life. Finally, as you review your list at the end of the day. I want you to make sure you allow yourself a well-deserved applause (some days maybe even a standing ovation) about what you DID get done! Put on “blinders” about anything not accomplished and if appropriate, add it to tomorrow’s list. It’s what I call my “Scarlet O’Hara approach”. I lived in Atlanta for six years so I figure I am entitled to use her “I’ll deal with it tomorrow” approach. Sometimes that’s the best plan.

Debbye Cannon knows what it’s like to be overwhelmed. Twenty-five years ago she had two kids in diapers, a husband in the military, Scout leader and a growing home-based business. It wasn’t long before she had a breakdown on her sticky kitchen floor. Now, Debbye’s sharing the… SMARTcuts that saved her sanity… and has since helped women all over the country take control of their chaotic lives. Visit her online at BusinessMomMentor.com