Amber Lilyestrom

In the last month, it has become increasingly difficult to find the necessary space and time to check-in with myself. 

While, the summer months have been a bit less hectic, the tide has quickly turned with the return of the students on the @UofNH campus. The open parking lots are a thing of the past and the days are feeling chaotic and rushed. While this is nothing new for those of us who work in collegiate athletics, it somehow feels strikingly more intense this year.

I can only speak for myself in this regard; but, it has become glaringly apparent to me that this is happening for a myriad of reasons. The first would be due to my wildly overflowing plate of responsibilities and obligations. The second would be the pace at which information is available “these days” and consequently, is required to be made readily available to our fans and followers. The third would be a slight shift I am feeling in priorities and focus when it come to my family as I get older (a very necessary shift, I might add).

So given all of the above, it would come as no surprise that it puts me in a state of overwhelm at times. There are not enough hours in a day to accomplish all that I have set out for myself to accomplish.  It’s a fact of life.  So instead of “locking up” and melting down, I have created a tool that I rely on regularly to help sift through the “stuff” in order to stay focused and achieve my goals. Being the visual person that I am, I like to see all of my roles and responsibilities laid out in front of me.  So I have created a “Life Map” exercise. I grab a piece of blank paper and draw out circles outlining all the areas of emphasis in my life. This practice also helps to identify where I may need to make some changes. More often than not, I find that the area of friends and family is getting the short end of the stick and this is something I am committed to changing. My career is extremely important to me; but, my family and loved ones will always come first. And in order to regain some of this balance, I will need to start getting more disciplined with my schedule. There are many ways in which I can do this and so can you…I’m interested in hearing how you find the right balance in your personal and professional life.

Tweet me your solutions at @AmberLilyestrom with the hashtag #sbfit so we can all help one another during the busy fall season.

Have a great Sunday…take some time to craft your Life Map and see what needs some tweaking.  I think you’ll find it to be a cathartic process and also one that helps you create a roadmap for the days and weeks ahead!

Cheers….oh yes, and GO @PATRIOTS!