The mid-point of 2016 beckons with even greater challenges to managing, but what would it be like to be beamed back to 1816 with a battery-powered tablet or smart phone in your hand, or even a flashlight? No one would know anything about these devices. You might be deemed a sorcerer or witch. Today, we know that much of what we do not understand or cannot see exists, i.e., ultrasonic waves, television remote control, smart phones, CAT scans, and black holes to name a few of thousands of examples.

Suppose you were beamed to the year 2026 and told that you could handle all of the information confronting you, never need to feel behind, and feel the clock slowing down. What's more, suppose you were told there was no reason to have headaches, or that you could approach nearly everything in your career with grace and ease, because it was possible now. Would this be sorcery? Not really, because each of these capabilities are possible today.

When the Going Gets Tough

What would your life be like if you had the ability to drop back when you wanted or needed to do so? To have time for true rest and relaxation? To have time for quiet reflection? While no one lives a life with constant breathing space, there are some among us who recognize the limits of our days, weeks, years, careers, and lives, versus the infinity of that which competes for our time and attention. Even in tough situations, if you have a vivid portrayal of what you face, you can map out an approach that will bring you to higher ground.

During the darkest days of World War II, when London endured the Blitz (fire-bombing) and many citizens feared they would become slaves to the brutal Third Reich, Winston Churchill assessed this ultimate challenge, concluded what he had to do to be triumphant (drag the Americans into the war, at least via means of war time production of armaments). He then proceeded to do precisely that.

Likewise, none of the concerns that you face in your career or your life are insurmountable, although they might be annoying and relentless. To have breathing space in your life requires continual effort. You wouldn't take a bath once a week whether you needed it or not; you clean yourself often. The same is true with having breathing space. 

Creating a Little More Heaven on Earth

Despite the pace of change in society – the constant development of new technology, all the paper and information that confronts you on a daily basis, and everything that competes for your time and attention, you have the ever-present opportunity to remain resilient.

When you carve out even a few moments of breathing space for yourself, the world is a different place; it doesn't seem so hectic. Often, things work out for the best. You have a sense of control and are almost independent of your environment. The feeling of being in control of your life, while acknowledging that you’re only a small part in the overall scheme of things, enhances your experience of the world around and within you, every day.

Jeff Davidson is "The Work-Life Balance Expert®" whose passion is helping organizations achieve rapid progress for their employees or members. The premier thought leader on work-life balance issues, Jeff is the author of 65 books, among them "Breathing Space," "Dial it Down, Live it Up," "Simpler Living," the "60 Second Innovator," and the "60 Second Organizer." Visit www.BreathingSpace.com or call 919-932-1996 for more information on Jeff's keynote speeches and seminars.

• Managing the Pace with Grace®
• Achieving Work-Life Balance™
• Managing Information and Communication Overload®

Related Resources from PM Magazine:

Don't Stall, Take Action

Take a Deep Breath

Getting More Done

Check out other Leadership {RE}Imagined articles here.