We’ve learnt our lessons the hard way. But rather than wait for the next
recession blow, one can play it safe.   Sanjeev Sinha  ( The Economic Times)

10 points that can equip you to deal with similar situations

THE OVERALL impact of the financial meltdown, which is certainly huge, is
now evident across the world. Particularly, the pain of job losses and drop
in savings is being felt everywhere. This, in turn, has instilled a sense of
fear and cynicism in the minds of investors globally. Still, while we are
making vast efforts to extricate ourselves from the current crisis, little
effort is being made to prevent the next one. Rather than wait, however,
there are many things which can be done now to avoid another crisis, or at
least cushion the blow when it comes. Listed below are 10 personal finance
lessons we can and should learn from the meltdown:

CONTROL EXPENSES & STICK TO THE BUDGET

You are more likely to face financial problems, if you have been extravagant
in your expenses. However, in a bid to tide over the current crisis and also
avoid such crises in future, you need to adhere to some financial
disciplines, and making a budget and sticking to it is one of them. Sticking
to the discretionary budgets, in fact, can help you handle the uncertainty
in the non-discretionary expenses.

DON’T COUNT ON TOMORROW’S INCOME

Counting on tomorrow’s income to spend today is one of our greatest
mistakes, which has already been proved by the current crisis. In fact, up
until the financial meltdown hit us, the spending levels of individuals,
especially in the 25-35-year age group, have been almost equal to their
income, if not more. “With the easilyavailable loans and credit cards they
were tempted to indulge even without being able to afford the expense. Now
with pay cuts and job losses, they are facing the worse. However, even if
you keep your job now, the prevalence of pay cuts makes it clear that you
can’t count on an ever-expanding paycheck to make up for your spending,”
says Lovaii Navlakhi, managing director & chief financial planner of
International Money Matters.

MAINTAIN LOW DEBT

Prioritise your debts. Pay off your loans with the highest interest rate
first. Basic advice, right? “The problem is that people have been
reiterating this theory for years, but most do not put it into practice.
This step requires one to plan out one’s debts and then follow through by
reducing it regularly and systematically. True, paying off debt can be a
difficult task, but it can also be quite rewarding as it gives you peace of
mind,” says Navlakhi.

GO FOR STRATEGIC ASSET ALLOCATION

Time and again we will hear from the so-called experts that there is a
paradigm shift in the market dynamics and that investors need to revise
asset allocations more aggressively to meet the impending demands of their
future lifestyles. “But one should strictly avoid falling for such traps.
Though temporarily the portfolio may appear underperforming, sticking to
fundamentals of strategic asset allocation would always help investors come
out of such temporary market mishaps,” says Ramesh Patibanda, director -
financial planning, Advice America, world’s leading provider of financial
advisor software solutions.

HAVE EMERGENCY FUND IN PORTFOLIO

Having an emergency fund in your portfolio is an ideal way to tide over a
family crisis or meet unexpected expenses. Therefore, the need for
maintaining emergency funds has always been emphasized by our forefathers.
“Even standard financial principles suggest that you should keep aside cash
to cover three to six months of living expenses, which would also be able to
cover most emergency expenses. Your emergency funds can also come handy in
case of a job loss,” says Ashish Kapur, CEO of Invest Shoppe.

ORGANISE YOUR FINANCES

To those who are not used to monitoring and managing their finances closely,
this may sound like a lot of work. But once you get a system in place, it
should only take a bi-monthly monitoring to stay on top of everything.
Ensure that you maintain sufficient liquid funds for emergencies. Also,
monitor your loans and ensure that you make credit card payments before the
due date.

LEARN TO PLAN AHEAD

It’s no secret that poor planning contributed to why so many people are
currently in weak financial situations. However, don’t panic. Figure out
where you are, where you want to be and put in place a realistic plan for
getting there. Unique circumstances will come up and cause you to stray from
your plans temporarily, but structure is necessary in order to monitor your
progress and stay focused.

INVEST SLOWLY & SYSTEMATICALLY

The problem for many people is that they live month to month and don’t
develop healthy saving habits until they are in their thirties or forties.
“Contributions to a savings plan should be recognised as the first of your
necessary monthly expenses, so that money saved will never be thought of as
money that can be spent. Even if you start saving in small amounts now, you
can always increase in the future,” says Navlakhi.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR INVESTMENTS

The worst thing you can do in a slow economy? Panic and pull all of your
money out of your investments! Therefore, resolve to protect your finances
as the market storm rages on. Take this time to build up your emergency
fund, and set reminders to regularly review your portfolio’s asset
allocation. “Try to align the same with your mid-term and long-term goals.
Do not get distracted by the usual city traffic jams when your final
destination is miles away,” advises Atul Surana, certified financial
planner, Catalyst Financial Planning.

HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

There’s nothing wrong with hoping for the ‘best’ from your investments, but
you could be heading for trouble if your financial goals are based on
unrealistic assumptions. Therefore, when Warren Buffett says that earning
more than 12% in stock is pure dumb luck and you laugh at it, you’re surely
in for trouble!

Source: Economic Times, Sunday, 28 June 2009

//

I work this way because it aligns with my mental energy cycle. Any
more than 3 hours in front of a computer and my eyes start hurting
and I become restless. I lose the ability to do my best work.
Instead of forcing myself to continue, I switch to an activity that
allows my mind to recharge. These breaks maximize productivity by
eliminating down periods. It’s counter productive to force work when
the mental energy isn’t there.

The Problem with an 8 Hour Work Day

A continuous 8 hour work day is a relic of the past. It makes sense
for physical labor and manufacturing work, but with information
workers it doesn’t account for the mental energy cycle. The ability
of a factory worker to think analytically is irrelevant, he’s either
cranking widgets or he isn’t.

In the case of the modern information worker, nearly all tasks
involve creative or strategic thinking. The way someone answers an
email or interprets a piece of information can differ drastically
depending on his or her energy level. Nobody does their best work
5:30 in the afternoon after they’ve been sucking down coffee all day
to stay awake.

I can’t speak for all workers, but I’ve observed that productivity
levels generally peak twice a day — first thing in the morning and
shortly after lunch. The most productive period is the beginning of
the day. People are capable of creative tasks like writing and
solving complex technical problems. After a couple hours of intense
work, energy levels drop and workers downgrade to less demanding
tasks like responding to email and tinkering with existing
creations. Towards the end of the cycle, the mind is so cluttered
and drained that workers resort to “work related activities” that
appear productive but don’t contribute to the bottom line. The
afternoon cycle is similar but the productivity peak isn’t as high.
For different people the peaks and valleys will vary, but overall
I’d estimate only 3-4 hours a day could
be classified as highly productive.

This number isn’t caused by slacking. You can’t force an information
worker to be highly productive when the energy isn’t there. Workers
can try their hardest, but the work just won’t have that creative
edge. The low ratio of highly productive hours to total hours worked
is the result of the continuous 8 hour work day.

When workers reach the low energy part of the cycle, they can’t
recharge with a non-work activity. The only option is office
purgatory. You can’t be highly productive because you’re mentally
fatigued, but you can’t recharge because the 8 hour work day
requires the appearance of constant productivity. The result is
millions of unproductive workers trapped at their desks when they’d
rather be doing something else.

Alternative Work Arrangements

The obvious solution to this problem is planning around the mental
energy cycle by breaking the work day into multiple segments. The
traditional office setting doesn’t accommodate this because there
are few available recharge activities. People can’t do household
chores, run errands, or engage in recreational activities without
leaving the workplace.

Some companies have tried to make the work environment more
accommodating by offering meals, fitness centers, and special areas
for relaxation. Although these amenities are certainly an
improvement, they’re expensive for employers and only partially
satisfy employees.

The solution that makes the most sense is a remote work arrangement
because it reduces employer costs and allows employees to adjust
their work schedule to their mental energy cycle. When a worker
becomes mentally fatigued, they can go off the clock and engage in
recharge activities that are personally productive like exercise or
relaxation. When energy returns, the worker can start working again
at a high level, effectively cutting out the low productivity period
of the cycle. Employers don’t pay for unproductive time and
employees get to work in a more natural pattern that adjusts to
their personal lives.

Why isn’t everyone doing this already? Many workers already are, and
as commutes get worse and communications improve, the number will
continue to increase. Of course there will always be a need for
officeworkers in businesses (like doctor’s offices and law firms)
that require daily customer interaction, but for most companies it
really isn’t necessary.

There is also the argument that people need to collaborate in
person. This is steadily becoming less essential. Most office
communications are already done through email or instant messager.
Face to face meetings are certainly necessary, but for the vast
majority of lower and mid level employees meetings are the exception
and could be conducted via phone/video conference or condensed into
one or two days a week.

Another common objection is that employees will abuse remote work
arrangements by slacking off. I’m inclined to believe that most
adults value their employment enough that this isn’t a problem. In
cases where supervision is required, web cams and other technology
can used to monitor a worker.

I suspect the real reason remote work arrangements are still the
exception is inertia. Companies are used to doing business in the
office and are reluctant to change. There is also the presence of
office politics. If one person is given a remote arrangement,
jealous employees will complain. Doesn’t it make sense to give
everyone what they want and save a boat load of cash on office
space?

I may only be a kid in his 20′s, but I can tell when something just
makes sense. I perceive an increasing number of people are noticing
the same phenomena. Forty years from now we’ll be telling our
grandchildren about the olden days when everyone’s mommy and daddy
went to work in an office.

Sankranti means to go from one place to another place (to change direction). It also means one meets another. The time when the sun changes direction from one constellation (of the zodiac) to another is known as Sankranti.
Transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (Uttarayana) is known as Makar sankranti.

Solar Year – Importance of the Sun

There are 12 signs of the zodiac. There are 12 Sankrantis as well. They are given names according to the position of the sun in relation to the signs of the zodiac. Each of the 12 Sankrantis has its relevant importance but two of these are most prominent.

These two are Mesh Sankranti and Makar Sankranti (Aries and Capricorn).The solar year commences when the sun is in Aries (the first sign of the zodiac). From the point of view of mathematical calculations, the solar year is more scientific than the lunar year. One lunar year has 354 days only and lunar days (or nights) increase or decrease according to the phases of the moon. Compare this to the solar year which has 365 ¼ days and remains the same. Many astrological books are based upon solar calculations. The sun is the most important and the most prominent of our stars and the undisputed lord of our planetary system. The sun always comes first. First day of the week commences with Sunday (Ravi).

Science attaches great importance to the sun. The sun is the inexhaustible storehouse and the source of light and energy. Without sunlight creatures and vegetation would cease to exist. People will lose their life sustaining vitality. Lack of nourishing substances would lead to the end of creation. This is why the sun’s existence, movements and positions in the cosmos are so important and that is why the sun earns our respect, admiration and reverence.

Mesh Sankranti

The solar year commences when the sun is in Aries (the first sign of the zodiac). During this auspicious period, great deal of merits are acquired by performing Havan (Yajna or Sacred Fire ceremony), Japa (repetition of Mantra or God’s name), Shraddha, Charity etc. Householders top up their grain jars and families start wedding preparations for their sons and daughters of marriageable age.

Makar Sankranti
The second Sankranti of great importance is Makar. Transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (Uttarayana) is known as Makar sankranti. The sun and journeys northward. The days are gradually lengthening in the northern hemisphere.

Khichadi Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is also known as KHICHADI (Indian dish made from rice and lentils) Sankranti because on this day the injunction to eat Khichadi , is generally observed by people. Seasonal crops become available. Ghee, and spices are used for making tasty nourishing Khichadi. Winter loosens its grip on shiver producing cold, admitting springtime that brings with it the chance for all round health improvement.

Til Sankranti
In addition to Khichadi, great importance is attached to the use of TIL (Sesame seeds) during Makar Sankranti. Therefore, this Sankranti is also called TIL Sankranti. People make Laddoos (round balls) from Til. Til oil is used for massaging.Six types of usage of Til are described. Til is used for Bathing, for Massaging, for Havan (sacred fire ceremony), Tarpan with Til (oblations of water with Til), Til used as food, and Til is donated in charity.

It is said that Til emanates from Vishnu’s body and that the above described usage wash away all kinds of sins. Sankranti period is held to be very auspicious and any good deeds during this time will produce merits. Gifts of clothing, blankets etc., on this day are productive of merits in both this life and in the next life.

Kite Flying Day – Uttarayan
Makar Sankranti is also celebrated with great enthusiasm as the Kite flying day.

Gangasagar and Surya Puja
At Sankranti time great importance is attached to Ganga snaan (bathing with waters of the river Ganges) and Surya Puja (worshipping the sun). Bathing, worshipping gods, Havan, Japa, Fasting and Charity; each of these are extremely holy deeds.From Makar Sankranti onwards when the sun is travelling northwards, innumerable auspicious things start happening. Climate and atmosphere improve. Children born during this period are naturally progressive, well mannered, pleasant and of noble disposition.

The Bhagavad Gita mentions the importance of the northern path of the sun at the time of death. This was the reason why Grandsire Bhishma, who was wounded in battle and in semi conscious state, while lying on the bed of arrows, chose to wait it out, awaiting the northward path of the sun, before choosing to die.

All such special reasons make the northward journey of the sun sacred and auspicious at Makar Sankranti.

Makara Shankranti – The Pongal

This is the day when the sun begins its northward journey. It usually falls in the middle of January. For the people of the northern hemisphere, the northward path of the sun marks the period when the sun is getting closer and closer to them, when the days are getting longer, and it is becoming warmer and warmer.

To Hindus, the sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. Makara Shankranti signifies that we should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we live, and begin to joyously let the light within us shine brighter and brighter. We should gradually begin to grow in purity, wisdom, and knowledge, even as the sun does from this day.

In fact, the sun itself stands for all the ideals of the Pongal festival. Its message is that of light, unity, equality and true selflessness. These are the ideals of Karma Yoga. Hence, the sun is the greatest Karma Yogi. Does it ask any reward for all that it gives to us? If it stops shedding its light, we are doomed to death. If we learn this one lesson from the sun, our lives will shine with divine lustre like that of the sun.

Makara Shankranti is called Pongal by the Tamilians, from whom it ushers in the New Year. The day begins with Surya Pongal or sun worship. The newly harvested corn is then cooked for the first time.

Joyous festivities mark the celebration in every home. Servants, farmers and the poor are fed and clothed, and given presents of money. On the next day, the cow, which is regarded as the symbol of the Holy Mother, is worshipped. Birds and animals are also fed.

In this manner the devotee’s heart gradually expands during the course of the celebrations. Love extends from the household to servants, the poor, the cow and all other living creatures.

During this holy festival we learn to feel our oneness with all creation; we learn to be unselfish and to tread the path of love, purity and forgiveness. We learn that our real wealth is the goodwill and friendship of those around us, the land on which our food grows, and the animals that help to make our work lighter.

“Share what you have with all” – this is the clarion call of the Pongal festival.

Sankranti is celebrated all over India and Nepal with some regional variations:

• In North India,
  • Punjab – Lohri
• In East India,
  • Bihar – Sankranti
  • West Bengal and Assam – Bhogali Bihu
  • Gujarat and Rajasthan – Uttarayan (Kite flying festival)
• In South India,
  • In Tamilnadu – Pongal
  • In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh – Sankranthi
  • Makara Vilakku Festival in Sabarimala Temple
• Other parts of India as Makara Sankranti
• In Nepal,
  • Tharu people – Maghi
  • Other people – Maghe Sankranti or Maghe Sakrati

© Tel Asiado

New Year’s tips to a fresh start for a healthier, calmer, and less stressful life.

The New Year means giving yourself another chance at life, a fresh start. Some might have prepared their resolutions, while others can’t be bothered but that doesn’t mean they haven’t mentally prepared themselves their own resolve. Always, it’s the time to plan carefully, set goals and prioritize. By doing them, simple things can be enjoyed with a calmer and less stressed living. Here are some tips or reminders to consider.

Reflect

You know you need to change, but can’ t quite put your finger on what exactly is making you anxious, unsettled or frustrated. Desires can be muddled by responsibilities or concern for others, fear of the consequences, uncertainties or being out of touch with your feelings. A few mental exercises can help pinpoint your goals. Write down your thoughts, worries and needs. It’s a powerful way to clarify thoughts, confront fears and help identify and secure commitments. Make your goals specific, measurable, attainable and time-specific.

Take a look at your life from a number of perspectives: work, home, health, relationships and money. How about your spiritual life? How do you feel about each of these areas? Be specific. What actions can you take to improve on them?

Resolve

Who hasn’t ever made a New Year’s resolution to keep a tidier house or lose weight? Keeping them is the hard part. Motivation and discipline are the keys. Resolutions should be realistic, practical and from the heart. If you’re looking for a job then network and be persistent with your job search. Beware of including resolutions that say “I should….” or “I ought to…” which are likely more to please others or expectations from others than your own.

Reduce Time-Wasters

Identify activities, task or chores that can be reduced or eliminated as they waste time or create more stress. If it’s a burden of home tasks, set household goals and share the load with other members of the family. Prioritize. Time-wasters can occur in any area of your life.

Relate

Communication is most important in any relationship. It’s a challenge to keep lines open in order to maintain a harmonious relationship. It is how feelings and experiences are shared to build and sustain a healthy togetherness. Be assertive and not aggressive, maintain a win-win situation or try hard to make it so by talking it over rather than harboring ill-feelings. Practice patience, tolerance and respect – easier said than done, but can be done.

Reassess

Financial difficulties can be a result of previous mistakes. Now is the time to reassess factors such as lack of planning that has proved costly; overspending; allocating for the lean times or unexpected events like illness or loss of a partner; credit balance, which could be an expensive debt carried over from month to month; untimely decisions made which you are not ready to do, as during a period of grief or after a divorce.

Reinvent

This pertains to key areas in your life that need changing for the better. Think and write down and act on those you believe need to change or to let go, plan a strategy. For example, your lifestyle, your spending, your career, your skills, and your relationships. Again, be specific and time-specific.

Relax and Revive

Remember to relax at your own pace, to revive. Cool it and take a rest. This will release muscle tensions, normalize breathing and pulse rates.

A New Year, New Beginning, New You.

Music is the inner or universal language of God. I do not speak French or German or Italian, but if music is played from any of those countries, immediately the heart of the music enters into my heart, or my heart enters into the music. At that time no outer communication is needed; the inner communion of the heart is enough. My heart is communing with the heart of the music, and in our communion we become inseparably one.

Meditation and music cannot be separated. When we cry from the inmost recesses of our heart for peace, light and bliss, that is the best type of meditation. Next to meditation is music, soulful music, the music that stirs and elevates our aspiring consciousness. We cannot meditate twenty-four hours a day, but we can meditate, perhaps, for two hours a day. At other times we can play music or listen to music. When we play or hear soulful music, psychic music, immediately we are 1911 transported to a higher realm of consciousness. When we play music soulfully, we go high, higher, highest.

Each time we hear soulful music, we get inspiration and delight. In the twinkling of an eye, music can elevate our consciousness. But if we also pray and meditate, then we are undoubtedly more illumined and fulfilled than a music-lover who is not consciously leading a spiritual life. Each spiritual musician is consciously spreading God’s light on earth. God is the cosmic Player, the eternal Player, and we are His instruments. But there comes a time in the process of our evolution when we feel that we have become totally one with Him. At that time, we are no longer instruments; we ourselves are musicians, divine musicians. It is the Supreme who makes the proper instrument. Then, it is He who inspires the player to play properly.

Let us not try to understand music with our mind. Let us not even try to feel it with our heart. Let us simply and spontaneously allow the music-bird to fly in our heart-sky. While flying, it will unconditionally reveal to us what it has and what it is. What it has, is Immortality’s message. What it is, is Eternity’s passage.

source : http://www.srichinmoy.org

video by : Praveen Mayakar

Due to some reason my blog suspended, but now it’s working.

Please visit regularly for latest articles and updates.

Thank you

Hitesh Kapadia

Why a work-life balance is important?

Life is obviously more important than work. But without work, life wouldn’t be a complete one too. The first and foremost reason to have a job is to build a life that is most comfortable and hassle-free. The years that have been spent for so much of studies are for getting a job like this. But once you land up with your desired job, instead of a new exciting life, you loose the balance just like a newborn trying to fly a kite.

You have already come through the reasons. Now let’s see the problems when there is no work-life balance. The basic problems happen due to the absence of a proper balance in life are,

• Health and fitness problems
• Stress and tensions
• Relationship problems
• Financial Problems

But these basic problems will give rise to unimaginable consequences. Diseases, most rare and fatal, mental disorders, memory problems etc may just haunt you like anything. But where is the help? What are the ways to find a rhythm of life? What are the necessary elements in your life that need a proper alignment and balance? Just scroll down….

Tips for a work-family agreement

Knowing when to disconnect, shut it off, unplug, or walk away from work is one of the essential keys to balance work and family life.

When was the last time you completely left work behind? How frequently do you take work home, check e-mail or voice mail from home, or take your work with you on vacation? Do you feel you can’t afford to not do these things? What’s the real impact on your personal sense of balance when you are consistently making work your top priority?

However, more often than not, you let work seep into your personal lives even when there’s not a bonafide emergency or time-urgent crisis. You’ve become so accustomed to the ever-presence of your work that you’ve unconsciously allowed further intrusions that have, in many cases, become unreasonable.

1) Plan your life

Plan your works and the time for each of them. Avoid working late or taking assignments home out of habit. Do it only when you have an urgent project deadline. It will not be a wise career move to be a clock-watcher or an Out At 5 kind of guy, but it is a good idea to make plans after work a couple of days each week. It will get you out the door at a reasonable hour and refocus your attention.

2) Work at work and family with family

Protect each role from interference by the others. When you are at work do your work with dedication. At home be a total family man. Turn off your cell phone, laptop, beeper, or email when you are at home, so that you can be fully “present” during this time. Similarly, when you are at work, try to limit personal life intrusions – this will help you be more efficient and effective during your workday.

3) Achieve a psychological balance

Time is not necessarily the main conflict you experience between work and personal life. Most of the time it is your psyche that destroys your balance. The psychological disturbances have serious impact over the work-life ongoing. The psychological conflicts (guilt, difficulty “turning off” work behaviors at home, pressure, anxiety) create the most problems. To balance here, you have to withdraw your mind from some of those unhelpful emotional participations. This will help cut all the negative emotions you have.

4) Utilize office options

Take advantage of your workplace’s family-friendly policies and supports. If your workplace offers discretion over the methods, timing, or location of your work, use this flexibility to improve your situation. Check for the availability of workplace options such as flex-time, telecommuting, compressed work weeks, vacation purchase plans, etc. Many companies are recognizing the importance of satisfied employees and are helping them achieve worklife balance.

5) Share the Load

Don’t assume yourself doing all the family necessaries. Get your partner or other family members to help you with all your personal/family responsibilities. Taking care of the household, children, or parents should not be the responsibility of just one person.

6) Take it easy- the best policy

Except living, everything is of no value. This is a great philosophy to be understood. Don’t give something an importance more than what it deservers. Let things go smoothly and easily. Learn to recognize the things that don’t really have much impact in your life and allow yourself to let them go.

Life is more than a series of meetings- emails and presentations. But when you get a job in one of your dream companies, when you start working, when responsibilities haunt you from behind, you tend to miss life somewhere under a pile of tensions and deadlines.

Since no steps are taken to bring back that LIFE into your life, by the time small tensions grow up to big diseases and deadlines broaden to your lifetime.

Absence of a work-life balance is commonest in today’s professional lives. Responsibilities are the criminals here. When your work demands more responsibility from you, the other side of your life starts struggling. When life, importantly personal or family life, calls for more attention from your side, your professional focus sinks. This kind of an aimless, unbalanced life-flow offers you tensions and stress lavishly and you fall as an easy victim to the diseases every time. No wonder, very strange and rare diseases befall, as you struggle from all the spheres of your being, the physical, psychological as well as the spiritual being.

Life of a technology professional: What’s wrong?

Let’s get down to the world of technology professionals. If you are a professional, sure, you wouldn’t have time even to scroll down to the bottom of this mini-course. But don’t escape; stay on, as it is going to save a whole lifetime for you.

Technology is the forerunner of life today. In the last 80-100 years, the world of technology has seen a high-speed growth. Today, it’s the beginning, center and the horizon of life. In order to come up with competing and cutting edge technological outgrowths, countries and companies are on a lifetime marathon. But in the meanwhile, no one puts a break to find out the miseries of the players, the professionals who are behind all the success.

IT has always been a tension-generating field of work. The life of an IT professional is an all time push-pull between deadlines and tension generating exertions. There are specific reasons why IT delegates such enormous pressures on the laborers.

• The extreme competition between companies. To produce the most competent technology or software and to acquire a top seat in the long time run, the companies compete endlessly. This battle directly puts the employees under extra work pressures, as the companies always want more from them.
• Deadlines. Frequent deadlines for projects that are very complicated and time-consuming take the employee out of a balanced life.
• Unmatchable growth of technology. Cutting edge technological introductions puts pressure to the professional most of the time, as it may be difficult to comprehend and follow.
• Poor team works. Teamwork that is below satisfactory levels gives pressure to everyone included in the team. Least performing and uninterested team-mates chop the confidence of the hard workers and untie their self-assurance towards the work. Personal relationship inside the teams too counts to the stress level of the employee.
• Due to strict work schedules, when there is no enough time to concentrate on the way of healthy living, the professionals face enormous problems in life. Add to that when carelessness originates, the balance of life slips almost completely due to unavoidable diseases and health problems. Frequent food avoidance, sleeplessness, unproductive habits that are fatal to the health are some of the widely seen lifestyle elements among professionals.

While the job rewards you with commensurate financial packages, a good part of your life is gone under the tight schedules of working. Constant pressures get you with fatal diseases. Deadlines hang before your smooth flow of life and takeout the interest to a large extent. Projects have to be completed in time so that your personal requirements are sacrificed. Family, friends, funs and fantasies appear blurred before your office tensions and temperaments. And some of you may even take those bites of pressures handsomely to your homes, thus making the scene worse than ever.

At one side there are personal responsibilities and physical complaints. And at the other end there are official responsibilities and deadlines.

Family against career! Responsibilities against obligations!

What can you satisfy? What you would quit? You get totally confused. You need to balance. You want that extra hold that helps you balance between the pressures of work and commitments of home.

The importance of this article is at this point. It has got those mantras of work-life balance. It really means a lot when you are reasonably tired of tossing your work and life time to time. So give yourself to this article for the moment. By the time you relax your tensions, it will carry you to a world, where the secrets of balancing your life are hidden like an instant treasure. But before that you should know what is meant by balanced life?