Did you know Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) accounts for the greatest median number of days of missed work among the major industrial injuries and occupational diseases?

Or that every year between 3-6% of the American workforce suffer from CTS?

One doesn’t really realize how painful Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be until experienced. It’s an awful pain, tingling and numbness of the hand and fingers due to nerve impingement in the wrist.

The first time I ever heard of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was in 1997 when a fellow student studying French at the Alliance Francaise in Tunis told me that she ended up changing her career from a computer data entry desk job to becoming a boutique manager thanks to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Surgery did not work in her case, but she seemed happy with her new life and career. I did not think it important enough to research the subject.

A decade later, the word Carpal Tunnel Syndrome came up again.

This time the IT and Administration Officer at an audit client had to take sick leave thanks to the same condition when his hand went numb. He could not pick up a pen leave alone a coffee mug.

It would still be a few years later when I would wake up in the morning with an indescribable pain in my right-hand middle finger lasting for what seemed to be forever.

The first time this happened; I thought I had slept on the hand and pinched a nerve. When the daily morning episodes started with a burning pain in the wrist as well, a visit to the doctor was in order.

A specialist referral diagnosed it as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The technician who did the test told me that the syndrome was starting in the left hand as well and was gleeful that surgery was in order.

I took my prescription from the specialist who suggested I return in a fortnight to discuss possible treatment. 

Fortunately, a relative who is a Sports physician advised me to rest the wrist, review my lifestyle to find the cause and take preventive measures. Surgery was supposed to be the last option which luckily was ruled out by some timely action on my part. 

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: 

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist.

The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (although not the little finger), as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.

Although painful sensations may indicate other conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common and widely known of the entrapment neuropathies in which the body’s peripheral nerves are compressed or traumatized.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel, rather than a problem with the nerve itself.

Contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist that cause swelling, such as sprain or fracture; over activity of the pituitary gland; hypothyroidism; rheumatoid arthritis; mechanical problems in the wrist joint; work stress; repeated use of vibrating hand tools; fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause; or the development of a cyst or tumor in the canal.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is also associated with pregnancy and diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, no cause can be identified.

The risk of developing this syndrome is not exclusive to a single industry or a job or to just data entry personnel.

I got lucky that I took timely steps to tackle this problem.

When I posted an update about this problem on Facebook, 3 of my school friends wrote back to say they had experienced the same problem. They had to have surgery for relief. All 3 friends were in different vocations with 1 common factor. They used their hands while working long hours.

In all 3 cases, it came down to using a computer for long hours of the day without taking breaks until the wakeup call rang with excruciating pain. The stress caused by the pain and inability to use the hand with forced rest were also part of the fallout.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, do listen to your hand and review your work and lifestyle. I would suggest a visit to the doctor as well to rule out the causes and contributing factors.

Check the additional resources at the bottom of this post to learn more about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

 5 easy habits that prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Disclaimer: If you think you might be suffering from this infliction or are showing signs of it, please consult a specialist immediately. The guidance in this post is not a substitute for medical advice.

Prevention is always better than a cure.

Here are 5 easy habits you can adopt to prevent being inflicted with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome if you are using the computer for long hours:

• Check your posture – keep your back straight and ensure that you are not putting too much pressure on your wrists, particularly if you use the computer predominantly during the day.

• Warm up your hands before you begin typing. Try finger push-ups, hand massages and even opening your hands wide and stretching your fingers.

• Take short breaks which can range from a few seconds to a few minutes to relieve pressure on the blood vessels and ensure good circulation.

• Exercise your wrists at regular intervals. Here is a great set of exercises that can be done while standing or even sitting. Extend both arms in front of the body. Then move the backs of the palms and the fingers towards your body. Hold for 10 seconds and then relax the wrists. Then while still holding your arms in front of you keep your wrists straight and curl your fingers into a fist. Squeeze and hold for 10 seconds. The next step is to bend the wrists downwards and hold for 10 seconds. Relax, straighten the wrists and bring your arms back down. You may repeat this exercise about 8 to 10 times.

• Drink lots of water. This helps to flush out the toxins in the body and keeps your muscles supple.

If you already have or suspect that you have this problem, proper medical advice is imperative.

In my case, I learned the hard way to take breaks and rest my hands. Once in a blue moon I wake up with a pain in the middle finger of my right hand and know it is because I lapsed with the breaks and exercises. 

I also exercise my hands and fingers with a Smiley Ball.

I acknowledge and accept responsibility for the health of my wrist and hands and do what is needed to avoid going back to the specialist. Prevention is better than a cure. In this case, one’s health is literally in one’s hands.

Have you ever experienced carpal tunnel syndrome? What remedies would you add to my preventive checklist?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Management -Useful Resources 

Stress Management with Chakra Balancing Exercises by Karmic Ally Coaching 

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Page 

Wrist Pain – Mayo Clinic 

Do you have control over your workspace stress?

Statistics courtesy U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Remedy: A Step-by-Step Plan to Heal Weakness, Numbness, and Tingling Without Surgical Intervention; Undo Past Harm and Experience Long-Lasting Relief

Smiley Balls

Get yourself one today (click the image below to find it!)

Picture Credit: Listen To The Hand… by Bobbi Jones Jones

This post was written in 2012 and has been updated in 2025 for new information.

Written By: Vatsala Shukla

That’s a question any career professional stuck in a dead-end job must answer when they feel resistance building up for taking the right self-preservation step.

I use the word self-preservation because I’ve seen too many people stick it out. They felt there was no other option.

Later down the road, they’ve experienced burnout, health issues and in some cases dismissal for under-performance or worse, becoming a victim to vicious, toxic office politics.

I still recall one of the Partners in a Big Four firm where I worked tell the Team Managers at a monthly meeting where the agenda was under-performing staff, that 80% of the employees stuck it out because they were the best paymasters in town (which was true at the time).

They needed performance improvement plans and counselling if that didn’t work. And if necessary assisting in their graceful exit to a different job.

The same holds true when a professional doesn’t want to quit despite the toxic work environment. Were coming into work each day and giving their best has become a stressful challenge.

When it comes to toxic work environments, I will always tell you to quit the job and find another one. Or make it a time for self-reflection thinking about what you really want and what you don’t want.

Then, after figuring out the non-negotiable items, move on to new pastures.

Money of course is a more sensitive topic.

I prefer to approach every problem in a systematic manner. Checking and double checking if I have accounted for all the variables that impact my unique customized issue.

Step 1 Is it a job or career change that you need?

Sometimes, money isn’t really the issue.

It could be lack of interest in a present employment or a roadblock to career progression. Maybe your own personal and professional development has created a situation where what worked before doesn’t make you happy.

So put the money and toxic issue aside for a moment. Ask yourself, are you happy in your present employment? Are you getting the recognition that you deserve? Is your workplace creating stress for you?

I suggest you try this Career Quiz and find out the underlying reason first and then proceed to tackle it with the tips that accompany the quiz.

Now that we have that sorted out, the next step is to address the money issue.

Step 2 You feel you can’t afford the job or career change

Many times, we stick to a job without considering outside opportunities or even a career change because we’ve become accustomed to a certain lifestyle or standard of living. We don’t wish to compromise it or feel we can’t afford it.

If you’ve assessed that it’s a simple job change, then frankly, all you need to do is be on the lookout for other opportunities that offer you a similar pay packet.

Let the Executive Search professional whom you approach know the specifics of your desired compensation package.

Also remember to factor in further growth opportunities. Sometimes the lower compensation package may come with other non-monetary fringe benefits. For example, holiday entitlement or family medical insurance that your previous employer isn’t providing.

A career change is a different kettle of fish. You need to demonstrate transferable skills to the prospective employer in the new industry vertical and negotiate your move by positioning yourself properly.

You CAN afford a career or job change but it requires some practical steps.

This includes an audit of your financial situation, knowing when to make the move and practicing stress resilience building techniques until you’ve made the move.

When it comes to money, we often don’t know our real financial situation. If you aren’t already tracking your income and expenses, then I suggest you commit to keeping an accurate record of all your income inflows and outflows for the next 30 days to see where money comes in and goes out.

Money inflow includes your take home pay as well as income earned from passive sources like subsidies, bank interest, dividend, royalties, rent income (if you have rented out a property).

Money outflow includes all your expenses – even the ones on the credit card and direct debits for subscriptions, mortgage and loan payments. It also includes small expenses like bargain offers, coffee, newspapers, fast food and other small ticket items.

At the end of the 30 days you’ll have an idea of your net income savings or deficit.

Now review how much of that spend is absolutely essential. You’ll be surprised to see how many items can be cut out if you really need to.

Start by examining each category of expense and work out the bare minimum is that you could afford to live on.

You will probably find that, for a time at least, you could survive on much less than you think.

When you look at your income inflows, you might realize there are sources that you haven’t accounted for before. Or that your income does not need to come from one source.

If there are other earning members in the family, ask them to do a similar exercise with you during the 30 days to work out the exact family budget.

This exercise works best when it’s done over 2-3 months. At the same time, make a list of any annual one-off payment that you have to make like car insurance, home insurance and other liabilities to put aside a buffer to cover it.

Armed with this knowledge you are in a better position to hunt for a new job or career because the money issue loses its teeth and you can prepare a game plan to make up for any income deficit.

You can learn more about money and finance management in my round up blog post Cool solutions for pressing money issues

Step 3 What’s your attitude towards money?

If steps 1 and 2 haven’t resolved the money challenge for you, then step 3 is required to introspect and reflect on your attitude about money.

Our childhood experiences around money can affect our attitude towards it. If money was short, the child in you remembers the pain of not having enough. Perhaps forgetting that parents did the best they could and there were treats on special occasions.

Or your parents, teachers and elders told you that money didn’t grow on trees. You figured out that you had to save what you could but not the corpus that you needed.

Money becomes a commodity to be hoarded rather than a conduit to help you get what you want and need.

If this sounds familiar, then take some time out to reflect on the following questions:

If money weren’t an issue, what would you love to do?

How much is your self-image tied up with financial success?

How much money would make you feel secure?

Do you see money as a means or has it become a goal in itself?

Are there any money messages that you learned in your childhood from your parents and teachers that affects your attitude to money?

Would you like to let go of these habits and unleash the energy of money in your life?

Do you want to make friends with enemy rather than treat it like a bogey monster?

Want to make money your friend and use its power to your advantage rather than against you? I suggest reading and applying the guidance in Money Success Secret: The Alchemy of Mindset and Management.

I’ve shared strategies that will help you give money the kind of attention it craves to do positive work for you.

The book will help you consciously change the way you look at money and get more control over it. Plus bonus resources to help you get the most out of the teaching.

I’ve used these strategies myself at different times in my life and know that they are powerful.  You can learn more here or by clicking the below image.

Returning to my original question, what’s more important for you – money or a toxic job?

How will you prevent money from becoming the key factor for staying in a dead-end job? Is ruining your health, relationships and work life balance worth it?

This month we celebrated Financial Literacy Month at The Karmic Ally Coaching Experience Blog. The topic for the April teleclass focused on 3 actions that we need to take before we start thinking of managing our money.

As a Finance professional, my intention was to give the reader and the listener enough tips, tools and strategies to help them find a solution to their pressing money issues as well as help going forward.

This is my 3^rd post in the Financial Literacy Trilogy (I just HAD to use this word; you know what I mean) where I’m sharing one of the tips from my teleclass. It is important to anyone who wants to make decisions about their spending that are aligned with their goals and needs.

A new conscious approach to spending

This mindset tool will hold you at your authentic self and keep those money eating impulse spending gremlins at bay. Besides, it is easy to implement.

Always remember, if you are finding it difficult to implement this exercise, defer spending for a day or two and then try again

Step 1: Choose the top 2 financial goals for the year, whether they are in your personal or professional life. Don’t spend too much time on this; let your intuition guide you. Choose 2 that immediately come to mind and write them down.

Consider any money that you spend to be an investment.

An investment has 3 core qualities.

1. You expect a Return on Investment (ROI)
2. It is clear HOW this ROI will happen
3. You have a date by which you want to start seeing this ROI happen

Step 2: When you are tempted to spend money, ask yourself these 2 Money Coaching Questions:

1. Is this an investment or fulfilling an important need or am I just spending money?
2. Is this investment in alignment with my financial goals and values?

Yes to investment and Yes to goals and values means you are making an investment decision from a conscious frame of mind

Try this exercise for size. You’ll notice the shift in your money spending and more money savings for the things you really need and even want!

Round up: money and finance actions!

I wanted to say ‘round up the posse’ but then, decided otherwise in case Google sent horse owners to me looking for tips on horses.

Jokes apart, this post is a roundup of all the posts I have written on Money and Finance and worthy of bookmarking in case you need to refer to it again.

You can click on the image or on the title of the post and a new window will open to the content.

A new conscious approach to spending (that’s this post)

Want to know how to create pots of money? (that’s where I shared how to start allocating money using a jars approach)

Money matters: Are you really on top of your finance game? (dare to try the self-assessment and learn if your money management practices are up to the mark?)

Top Secret: Your Little Habits create Big Savings

3 ways for steering runaway money horses back to stable -big ticket items

Money Management and Lifestyle Maintenance

3 important actions you need to manage your money – our featured teleclass. Sign up for the replay by clicking the image above or on this link and pick up some more tips before you create a budget.

Final Words:

This is just the tip of the iceberg on information and knowledge about money and finance. The posts were written with the intention of helping the reader make informed decisions and guidance to enable them to understand the areas where they do have control over their money.

If you want to really want to raise the energy of money in your life, then Money Success Secret: The Alchemy of Mindset and Magic is for you. Learn more here.

Which post was your favorite?

Tell me which tip you really liked or how you benefited in the comments box below

Please do share this post.

You never know who needs to read this information from within your circle.

It’s not unusual to look back at our carefree childhood days and remember the safety net that our parents provided.

What we often forget is the money management lessons that they might have imparted too. Including the scolding that preceded the negotiations and bargaining when one asked for extra dole outs.

My parents allowed me to ‘earn’ the extra cash by reading books from their amazing collection and providing them with book reviews. That led to developing a lifelong love for books and I can’t imagine my life without my literary companions.

I’ve recounted the story in my blog post Negotiate to Win. It is also a tribute to my late father who not only awoke a love for literature in me but made me understand the value of work as I earned my way to my first cassette recorder.

It was also a lesson in financial literacy for me!

As an adult, I often wish I could do similar negotiations and tap into abundance. The truth is that one has to learn money management skills. I learned the income and saving part as a child.

The expense side and figuring out how to balance a budget came soon enough when I entered the workforce.

One thing that I did learn early on is that how much we make is not as important as what we do with what we’ve got. In other words, getting the most out of our money is the key to proper money management.

When I originally wrote this blog post in April 2016, my intention was to celebrate Financial Literacy Month focusing on areas of money and finance awareness through a blog series.

The objective of this blog series is to help you, no matter your stage of life, to start working towards achieving your financial goals.

Some of your goals might require a certified money manager or an investment adviser to guide you. Those professionals will have a longer-term view of your finances and the big picture. Such decisions are outside the scope of this post.

I have since published a Kindle book Money Success Secrets: Alchemy of Mindset and Management.  This explores how to befriend the money resources that we have and make them work better for us.

(Here’s the link to the book)

In this post, we’ll look at your current stage of financial management skills. The aim is to get you thinking about areas where you can help yourself manage your wallet.

Are you game for an honest financial practices self-assessment?

Everyone loves a good quiz and self-assessment. Let’s look at your financial practices.

Financial Literacy Self-Assessment

Total your score: 0 points for each never; 1 point for each sometimes; 2 points for each always

How did your Money Management Score Go?

26 – 36 points suggests you are practicing good money management skills.

15 – 25 points suggests that you are doing well in some aspects of money management but can improve your money management skills – my book will help.

0 – 14 points suggests that you need to improve your money management skills – you definitely want to read my book!

So how did it go? Did you learn something new about yourself? Anything that you feel you can change this week? Do share in the comments box below! 

Last week we looked at 3 big ticket items where habit modification and action results in big savings, more money in your pocket and stops unnecessary outflow of money. All while maintaining your lifestyle.

In the concluding part of the Money Management series, we’ll look at 3 more practical areas where the pennies add up to pounds in the long run.

Learn the Art of Car Maintenance   

There’s no Zen theory here but a stitch in time saves nine. If you own a car, then maintaining a regular servicing of the vehicle by an authorized vehicle service provider can identify immediately remediable wear and tear on your car. This results in significant savings because regular oil and filter changes, wheel rotation, checking and replacement of brake pads keeps the car in good condition.

Combine recommended mileage checks with your weekly and monthly self inspection for battery, water and tyre pressure. Check your vehicle’s maintenance manual and see what other self inspections are required on a seasonal basis.

Annual Maintenance of Home Appliances

Make a list of all annual maintenance items for your home such as air conditioner, heater, hot water heater, etc. Once again, being prepared and working in a proactive manner can save you unnecessary expenses.

For example, if you get your air conditioners annual service done during Spring, then you lower the risk of something going wrong during the hot summer months. That’s when it is quite costly to repair as the demand for maintenance is higher.

Likewise for room heaters in the cold winter months. Find out if the dealer from whom you purchase home essential items offer an Annual Maintenance Contract or AMC and the warranty periods with extensions.

Consider Repairing instead of Replacing Items   

There are of course items which are not covered by AMCs and in this case, the prudent consideration and question is to repair or replace the said item. A good example is furniture and fixtures. If the basic structure is in good condition, then perhaps a change of upholstery or refurbishment may be more cost effective.

Even with televisions, washing machines and air conditioners which are no longer working at full efficiency, consider the cost of repair against the cost of replacing the item.

Sometimes it makes economic sense to replace electrical items as advances in technology result in more efficient products both in terms of electricity consumption and pollution. Look out for festive and exchange offers where the old equipment can be exchanged for a discount in the price of the new equipment.

Do comparison shopping for expensive items to get a feel of the prices. Dealers often make concessions on their margins, and you might yet get a bargain. The effort is worth it. No one likes to think that if they had shopped around a little more, they could have purchased an item for 10-15% less money.

There are many other ways to save money without compromising on one’s lifestyle. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another so choose actions that fit in with your circumstances. Choose those that are best suited to you.

4 Ways to Keep your Money Management Motivation in Top Gear

In addition to the 10 tips shared over the last 3 weeks, there are some non-monetary suggestions to help you stay inspired and motivated. Try one or all as the case may be.

Identify your spending triggers

Just like some of us indulge in comfort eating when depressed, sad, lonely, stressed, or anxious, these feelings can also act as a trigger for unnecessary spending, to get a ‘feel good’ boost.

For example, when you are bored, you go to the shops or the mall. Although you might have some necessary expenditure you end up buying non-essentials out of the ‘need’ to spend money.

In such cases, it helps to ascertain the actual problem and work on factors that you can control.

Retail therapy in small doses is good but not when it burns a hole in your pocket. Consider leaving your credit and debit cards at home on such outings. Or stepping back before making a purchase and ask yourself if you really need the item in question.

If you are prone to excessive spending when experiencing stress, this post on stress triggers will be helpful – Case Study: Do You Know Your Stress Triggers?

Be kind to yourself – give yourself a treat

Here we are talking of avoiding going into a complete abstention mode. Giving up the things that you like will not help your cause unless you have super strong willpower. The more you avoid something, the more it will obsess you.

For example, if you are fond of dining at a particular restaurant, treat yourself to a meal there once a month instead of once a week.

There is a way to make sure that you have the money for monthly treats for yourself.  I’ve shared the method in Money Success Secret: The Alchemy of Mindset and Management available in all Amazon Markets.

I also have a free resource for you – the replay of my teleclass – 3 important actions you need to manage your money. Click here for the details of the teleclass or on the image below and access it asap!

Live within your means

There is a saying in Hindi that one should only stretch ones legs as far as one’s bed sheet. In other words, live within your means. The best way to get into debt and financial crisis is to spend beyond your means.

We all want the best things in life, but happiness cannot be measured in monetary terms. Be grateful for what you have and accept your financial position. Use the tips provided to achieve more for your money but don’t go after things that you cannot afford. If the purchase requires time, then plan the expenditure.

Quite a few of the readers of the previous post shared their experiences and confirmed that one of their money management tools was to live within their means. So you see, it can be done!

Track your success for motivation

It always helps to see your success in saving money in writing. Keeping a money journal is a sure way to keep you on track while heading to the highway of success. Success can be in the form of small amounts or big ones. It could include deferring expenditure until the after Christmas sale and acquiring the same item at a lower price. Remember, success is success.

At the end of the day, learn to enjoy life rather than possessions.  Being happy is any day better than spending money on things that you might not actually need or to maintain a pseudo lifestyle.

If something is really important to maintain your lifestyle, then work on making the money available through a Money Spending Plan. Avoid stressing out just because you don’t have it.

Your turn! Are there any small ticket areas where you’ve created savings for bigger and more important needs? Tell me about it in the comments box below.

Three Credit Cards by Petr Kratochvil

Make Friends with Money 

If Money is a challenge that you really want to fix, then I invite you to read my Kindle ebook Money Success Secret: Alchemy of Mindset and Management available on all Amazon markets. Click here to learn more or on the image below.

You are also invited to sign up for the free Financial Literacy Month teleclass 3 important actions you need to manage your money.  Click on the image to be taken to the sign-up page.

A new window will open with all the details.

Tip No 2     Planning

Planning is a great way to save, not to mention getting the most out of your money.  If you’re going shopping, make a list of what you need and stick to it. Be particularly careful in malls. In Delhi at least it appears there are perpetual sales in many shops.

At one particular mall that I visited recently, the security guard in front of a retail shop catering to teenager and younger women tried to persuade me to at least walk-in to the shop.

Sounds pretty bad especially if it has been a decade or two since you were in the right age group. Most mothers know better than to buy their teenage children’s clothes.

When it comes to financial planning, it is advisable to break your goals into short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term.

Set milestones for the intermediate and long-term goals. Being able to see your accomplishments is a great motivator for you to work hard at saving.

Tip No 4 Stop Competing with Others 

Competition is natural and as long as it is healthy it is good, but one needs to know when to draw the line. You do not have to compete with anyone.

Be proud of what you have and who you are. It is perfectly alright to want the best that your money can buy, but it should be something that you want for yourself. Not to impress others or because EVERYONE is buying it.

Final Word on Money Management

Coins by George Hodan

If you have ever had a weight management problem, you will relate to the pain of seeing a static number on your weighing scale first thing in the morning. That is the time when out of desperation you try to jump start your weight loss with crash diets.

These are really Yo Yo diets that are detrimental to your overall well-being.

It is depressing to try losing weight with zilch results.

Especially when You’ve

• done the sensible eating,
• gone down the starvation route,
• consumed every book on the subject,
• going to the gym so frequently that when you miss a day, the folks at the gym get worried and call to check,
• had your medical checkup and no inherent reasons have been determined for the inability to lose weight and
• nobody wants to go out with you for a meal or even a coffee because you have become a walking calorie counting machine.

While I endorse sensible eating and exercising according to your body type and getting medical checkups to rule out thyroid and sugar problems, there is one technique worth trying before you abandon ship.

Your metabolism may be the culprit.

I faced this challenge way back in 2002. Everything I tried failed thanks to a sluggish metabolism courtesy my sedentary corporate lifestyle. Even walking 4 dogs one at a time could not mobilize my metabolism.

It relates to the Ayurvedic concepts of Ojas and Ama.

Imperfections in digestion are always present in people who have chronic weight problems.

According to Ayurveda, improper digestion leads to the build up of a product called Ama in our system. It is described as a sticky white substance that clogs the body channels and impedes normal body flow of blood, lymph and energy. This leads to lethargy, poor immunity, fatigue and fluctuations of mood.

On the other hand, the presence of Ojas helps to facilitate digestion and maintain vitality in the body. The higher the levels of Ojas, the better for us – we have higher energy levels, strength, stamina and a general sense of well-being.

1 Simple No Brainer Ayurveda Weight Loss Technique

This is a technique that I learned years ago. I stand by since it has not only worked for me but for others is simply sipping hot water at frequent intervals during the day.

The water has to be very hot and a few sips at a time will help. Try to build it into a routine. For example, if you take tea or coffee at particular times of the day, then just replace it with the hot water.

Remember, it is not important how much hot water you drink but how often you drink it.

You might find yourself urinating more frequently but this levels out after a few weeks.

Apart from aiding with digestion and helping with weight reduction, I have noticed some other benefits as well.

It assists in reducing water retention and the belly starts to flatten out. Energy levels rise and the skin gets a healthy glow. It works wonders as a stress resilience builder.

Another interesting benefit I noticed was when a friend of mine was told that his cholesterol level was dangerously high. This was creating a problem for his heart.

My friend was averse to taking medication. I suggested he eat more greens and along with the diet changes and required exercise routine, try the hot water to humor me.

The happy ending was that the cholesterol came under control within 2 months.

While it would have been the holistic approach, he affirmed that the hot water did the trick since he kept slipping off the diet and exercise programme.

So, just out of curiosity, why not try it out for a week, then come back and post your comments on your experience on my blog?

Stress too can affect our metabolism and hinder our weight loss initiatives.

Take Ayurveda techniques a step further with my complete resource on Chakra balancing exercises and 1 Minute Stress Management tools. All you have to do is click the image and get started on managing stress! 

Readers who have been reading The Karmic Ally Coaching Experience Blog posts would recall my post on the 3 tips to get one’s life balance back over the weekend.  While it is good to receive tips and advice it is more important to feel confident about your work life balance.

If you are sure you have it all worked out, then that is really good!

So, how confident are you? If you hesitated on reading the question, then I invite you to take this short quiz. Find out where you score in the work-life balance challenge.

Work-Life Balance Quiz

This is a really short quiz to give you some insights.

All you need is a piece of paper and a pen and mark each of the statements as it relates to you in terms of True or False.

1. I regularly bring work home with me
2. I’ve missed many of my family’s important events because of work-related time pressures and responsibilities
3. My annual leave entitlement either lapses or I end up encashing it
4. I have a hobby but rarely spend time on it nowadays
5. I often feel like I’m missing out on the things that mean the most to me
6. I think about work in my sleep
7. I have clutter in my house and/or in my office
8. My career is not what I thought it would be when I was studying for it
9. I get angry when people tell me to relax
10. I can’t remember when I spent some “me” time
11. I can’t remember the last time I went to the movies or visited a museum or attended some other cultural event
12. I wake up tired in the morning
13. Sometimes I feel as though I’ve lost sight of who I am and why I chose this job/career
14. I do what I do because my family depends on me for support
15. I cannot remember when I last read a good book

Scoring:

Give yourself 1 point for each true response and 0 for each false response.

0-3 – Your life is in pretty good balance! Just be sure to do what you can to guard that balance working on areas where you marked the statement as being True

4-6 – You are bordering on the negative side of work/life balance spectrum. Now would be a good time to take proactive measures before the areas that you marked as True start to play havoc with your life, work and everything and everyone that is important to you

7+ You already felt your life was out of balance when you took the test. Now you know for sure. It is time to act on a priority basis to make the necessary changes in your work and your life. Take your family into confidence and seek the required support to make changes before it is too late.

What about the statements that you marked “True”?

Each “true” response is a sign that you probably need to make changes in your life — and the higher the number, the more critical it is for you to make changes in your lifestyle.

Remember, no matter what your score, there is always scope for improvement and that is where Ten Steps to a Balanced Life The Karmic Ally Way will come in handy. The document is downloadable at Slideshare.net.

And if you really want to get back balance in your life, check out Finding Harmony: A Guide to Balancing Life for the Busy Professional

How did your quiz go?

Any surprises or areas where you need to focus to get your work life balance back? 

Written By: Vatsala Shukla

It’s Friday and the weekend is just a few hours away for most of us. Many of us would already have started preparing a mental To Do List of chores to be done in order to maintain our Work Life Balance.

Some might be thinking that if they go into work on Saturday, then they can tackle the home front on Sunday. Others might be thinking a few hours working from home would do the trick. Sorry buddy, but once that laptop is open, you won’t be logging off soon enough!

Often we want to make our lives more balanced but don’t know where to start. Even realizing that changes are required is a big step but the thought of effort & stepping out of our comfort zone can get in the way. A few changes can make a world of difference.

For those of us who struggle with the perennial problem of Work Life Balance, here are my Top 3 tips to take a step in the right direction. Jump start your efforts to lead a balanced life this weekend!

Protect your “non-work” time

Your free or private time is a valuable asset that you should protect at all costs. This is the time that you utilize in the other areas of your life to find balance & which enables you to function at optimum efficiency at work. When we think about work we usually have certain hours that we have to spend working. We do not even think about other activities at that time. For some reason when it comes to free time we forget how important it is.

Life Balance Tip 1: Turn off your cell phone during the weekends or put it on voice mail.  Consider telling your colleagues that you are not to be contacted unless it is an emergency.  If you work from home then it is vital to designate office area that you should not enter during your “off” hours. When talking to your family members & friends focus on pleasurable topics. If contacting you for a work-related issue is really that important or urgent, people will know how to find you.

Be an example of the changes that you want to see in the ones you love. Lead by example.

You do it as a corporate manager—do it at home! If you want your spouse to start to de-clutter his/her possessions then start by cleaning out your own stuff. Want your kids to spend less time on the internet? Do it yourself first. Follow Gandhi by being the change you want to see. Stop forcing your family members to change but rather show them what a balanced lifestyle is truly about. They will accept the transformation painlessly.

Life Balance Tip 2: Stop complaining but rather appreciate your time with the family. If there is something that you want to change about your loved ones then first consider, what habit can you change that will inspire your loved ones to follow your lead?  Put it down in writing; create the most detailed plan of action that you will stick to. Take time and don’t expect them to go at your speed. 

Create talking time with your family members every day.

Sharing your emotions, daily events, goals, plans or simply discussing the movie that you watched last night is an essential part of any healthy relationship.

Even if you are tired after a long day make some time for your loved ones. And if something is bothering you then tell your loves ones what is going on. Even though your family members know & understand you better than anyone else they still can’t read your mind. If you use dialogue for conflict resolution & problem solving in the office, would it not work on the home front?

Life Balance Tip 3: Don’t wait for Saturday; start talking to your family members. This is a no brainer and doesn’t get simpler. That’s it.

One small step at a time can make a big difference. Start today and I can guarantee that it will make your Life more balanced, happy & accomplished. Use one or use all three tips. Just begin the journey!

Bon Voyage!

PS. Not sure if you have a work life balance issue? How about trying out my Work Life Balance Quiz?  Click the image below. A new window will open and you can take the quiz with no sign up.

PPS. Know you need more balance?

The Conductor Type by Frits Ahlefeldt