| This last year I began my New Year with a | | | | engineering" responsibilities, I entrusted that my |
| family crisis. My mother had a stroke and I | | | | support team of a spouse and babysitters would |
| wanted to be there for her. By having a good | | | | do what needed to be done based on the plan |
| planner/calendar and leaving a simple "To-Do" list | | | | calendar which I left for everyone to see on the |
| for the wonderful support people who kept my | | | | refrigerator. |
| home going, I flew to Florida with peace of mind | | | | Delay -- I rescheduled my client business. I |
| and created an easy return for myself as well. | | | | accepted the fact that my newsletter would be |
| The trip went smoothly and my mother is | | | | later than my deadline and I would try my best |
| recovering nicely. Whether you have a hectic life | | | | to have it emailed by mid-January. |
| or a family crisis it's important to do two things. | | | | Diminish -- The day before I left, I altered my |
| First, is a self-assessment and then secondly | | | | weekly planner by scheduling routine chores/tasks |
| make decisions. Below is the process I used to | | | | so it wasn't necessary for others to do them |
| quickly prepare for an emergency trip to the | | | | while I was gone. For example, I normally do one |
| hospital to see my mother. | | | | big food shopping on Saturday. Since I was leaving |
| 1. ASSESSMENT | | | | on a Wednesday and was not returning until |
| Before I purchased a plane ticket I took a step | | | | Monday I purchased enough food to get my |
| back to think first, "How can I help support my | | | | family through my absence. I bought only |
| mom"? My sister (a nurse by profession) calmed | | | | ingredients/items my husband and sitters could |
| my sense of urgency since she was flying in that | | | | easily prepare such as grilled cheese, hamburgers, |
| night to be with my mother. She would stay with | | | | hot dogs, chicken cutlets and a ham steak. I also |
| until my mom was transferred into a rehabilitation | | | | supplied them with paper plates and plastic utensils |
| hospital. I knew my mother was in great hands; | | | | to cut down on washing dishes. I also did all the |
| she'd have not only family with her but also an | | | | laundry before I left so my husband only had to |
| advocate for her proper medical care. Therefore I | | | | do it once while I was gone. |
| decided not to leave for another five days when | | | | Delegate -- The children were my main concern. |
| my sister and I would swap turns at the rehab. | | | | How would I get them covered? I wrote out their |
| 2. "DECISIVE" ACTION-UTILIZING THE 4 D'S | | | | schedules for each day. Then I determined who |
| Now that I was comfortable with the situation it | | | | would get them to school, off the bus and to |
| was time to make arrangements for my family | | | | their activities. Between my husband and two |
| and business. I determined what was absolutely | | | | sitters that was covered. Then there was my |
| necessary to do before I left by studying my | | | | daughter's "friends" birthday party. My |
| schedule for the days I'd be gone and used the | | | | eight-year-old was really looking forward to this |
| "4 D's" in my decision making: | | | | High School Musical 2 celebration. A dear friend |
| - Delete | | | | gladly accepted this task of managing this themed |
| - Delay | | | | birthday celebration. |
| - Diminish | | | | When you realize that you can't possibly fit all |
| - Delegate | | | | your tasks/To-Do's into your day, help yourself |
| Delete -- For my business I cancelled my | | | | make decisions based on the 4D's. It'll help you |
| workshop that week. As for my "domestic | | | | take action which will project you forward. |