The “4 D’s” Required To Achieve Retirement-Work-Life Balance

Have you given much thought to what you must do to maintain a retirement-work-life balance?  I would like you to consider the following questions.

1) Do you ever feel overwhelmed and like everything in your life is spinning out of control? 

2) Do you find that you don’t get around to completing your “to do “list due to unplanned, unexpected, and seemingly uncontrollable challenges that occur?  

3) Do you ever wonder what is the real issue that keeps you off balance, two steps behind, and running to catch up? 

I know my response is “yes” to all of the questions above, which significantly impacts my retirement- work-life balance.

I have learned the hard way what the real issue may be. I can tell you it is not the economy, your boss, co-workers, your significant other, your children, or your family members. You might be surprised to learn that the real issue is “YOU”. 

We will always have to deal with the unexpected and unforeseen.  That’s not what I am talking about or the point I am trying to make.  I am talking about the day-to-day routine we face, accomplishing our dreams and desires for success.  I am talking about the everyday decisions YOU make.

Whether you are a working or stay-at-home mom, single or married, a business owner, employer, employee, or retiree, usually as a woman, you wear multiple hats. 

You have competing responsibilities from the bedroom to the boardroom.  Your Super Woman mentality has you convinced that you can and should do everything yourself, by yourself, because no one else will or can do it to your satisfaction.

Superwoman, the fact of the matter is you can’t effectively nor efficiently do everything.  Sooner or later, something is going to suffer.  Often it is you who does the suffering, mentally, physically, socially, spiritually, or financially. 

So, what are you going to do, whether retired or not, to ensure you do what only you can do when being stretched in multiple directions? 

I use the “4 Ds” to sort out what gets done, by whom and when. They ensure whatever is needed will be done most efficiently.  The “4 Ds” follow with a brief overview of each.  

DO IT: It is at the top of the list.  Whatever needs to be done and be done by me only—for example, writing this post, goes to the top of my list. 

DELAY IT: It is needed, but it is not the most compelling thing to be dealt with, and delaying it will not cause a significant impact on the outcome.

DITCH IT– It is not needed.  It is something I would like to accomplish.  But in the end, it adds little to no value to my list of accomplishments, desires, or requirements.  If anything, it distracts me and keeps me from doing what is needed.    

DELEGATE IT– It is needed, but I am not the best one to do it.  Someone else is better at it and will get it done in a more timely, efficient, and effective manner than me.  For example, creating a landing page or doing the behind-the-scenes work for launching a new product is not my area of expertise.  My expertise is creating the content for these endeavors.  Therefore, the best option for me is to collaborate with or hire someone to set up the site for sharing the content created by me.    

My advice to you is “Be smart!”  Maintain work-life balance by following the “4 Ds”- DO IT!  DELAY IT!  DITCH IT!  DELEGATE IT!

Would you mind sharing your thoughts or experiences?  I would love to learn about them.