It seems like just a few weeks ago I wrote a blog post on New Year’s resolutions and my word for 2009: balance.

In December, in addition to admitting I am a workaholic, I wrote: “I want more balance in my life. Not perfect harmony. Just more exercise, more time for reading, more time with the people I care about. More control over my minutes, hours and days.”

As we cross the mid-year mark, I am asking myself: do I have more control? Is that balance cling in bathroom working or not?

Happily, I can report I think it is. While my resolutions are still very much works-in-progress, I have noticed a change. I am exercising more and playing more. My daughters and I are cooking more, enjoying pretending we are Giada, and we are definitely lingering over our meals longer. I am sleeping more and I have managed to read a couple books.

But things are not perfect. Far from it. I know I said I wasn’t looking for perfect harmony, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. I am still a workaholic. Just ask anyone trying to schedule a coffee or lunch with me. I thought it was getting better, but then a friend sent me this work-life balance calculator. And guess what? I am still working 45% of the week, sleeping 33% and eating, cleaning and playing 20%. Not so balanced.

The good news is I can only imagine how much higher that number would be without my balance cling reminding me to balance my priorities. Every time I look at that cling, I think: you are committed to more balance - go play, go watch the Tour de France on TV, go pretend you are Giada with your kids.

Any change is a process. It takes commitment and consistent support. It is easy to forget. Empoword’s products are designed to be your steady reminder.

For additional help with work-life balance, check out this WebMD article: http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/5-strategies-for-life-balance.

- Stephanie Ross
Empoword co-Founder and CEO (Chief Empowerment Officer)