Today we're going to focus on your relationship with your work. Is it a good one? Is it a bad one? Where do you stack up?

So we've already focused on you and your time. Let's shift a bit and take a look at how your perceive your work. I'll say again, it's imperative that you take a completely honest approach to evaluating where you stand.
Don't worry, no one's watching :)

Don't forget that it might be easier to print out this post and use a pen or pencil to make any notes you need.

Rate the following items on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being that you disagree, 10 being that you totally agree)

1. I enjoy what I do for a living  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
2. I like it when Monday rolls around 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
3. I am passionate about my work  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
4. I have a flexible work schedule  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
5. I feel challenged at work  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
6. I like my co-workers  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
7. I have room for growth and advancement  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
8. I never worry about work after I get home  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
9. I feel like I am part of something at work  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
10. My work is not a major source of stress in my life  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Now add up your scores and enter the total here: _________

Compare your total score to the following scale:

(1-25) Work is obviously not your favorite thing. You may have constant doubts about where you stand and why you're doing what you're doing. Work is stressing you out. Your co-workers may be dragging you down. Is it time to make a change?

(26-50) Work may not be completely horrible for you, but, given the choice, it's not where you'd choose to spend your time. Do you find yourself looking for a greener pasture? You may no longer be as challenged as you once were, or as much as you thought you'd be. What went wrong?

(51-75) You've definitely chosen a field that can both challenge and excite you. You probably work with people you like and trust. Is there still room for improvement? What's missing?

(76-100) You're at the top of the heap. If you answered honestly, your work does not run your life. You have good balance between your personal and professional lives. You're following your passion and reaping the benefits. Congratulations on getting so far! Are you ready to go farther?

Take a look at each item you graded. Are there any patterns? Do your frustrations tend to revolve around time? Around co-workers? Around stress? Start thinking about what needs to change. Maybe it's as simple as having a conversation with your boss. It could be as drastic as a move to a new profession. What's missing???

I really want you to think hard on this one. Where Day 1 was broad, today's exercise is more specific. As I mentioned in Day 1, this isn't about finding solutions...yet. First we need to find the problem, then we'll work on fixing it.

Answer the following questions as honestly as you can. Again, feel free to print out this post and use a pen or pencil to grade yourself. Here we go.

Rate the following on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being that you disagree, 10 being that you totally agree)

1. I am a good manager of my time    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
   
2. I spend as much time as I want with family/friends    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
3. I have plenty of time to accomplish my tasks weekly  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10 
4. I effectively use some kind of scheduling system    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
5. I am always on-time    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
6. I rarely have to rush    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
7. I am usually pretty relaxed    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
8. I never forget about appointments    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
9. I schedule personal time each week    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

10. I prioritize my tasks    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Now total up your scores and enter the total here: _________

Compare your total score to the following scale:

(1-25) Yowza! You are brutally honest. That's awesome. You've got a lot to work on. Are you ready to learn how to utilize your time more effectively?

(26-50) You're livin' on the edge. Time is slipping away from you. You may occasionally miss meetings and find yourself running behind. Ready to improve your track record?

(51-75) You're smack dab in the middle. You have the potential to be really efficient, but sometimes you slip into habits of poor time management. Ready to make it into the top tier?

(76-100) Wow! Congratulations on setting priorities and taking the initiative to truly manage your time. You are in control of your days. You don't let time run away from you.

As we talked about in Day 1, you'll soon be getting tips on how to improve your time management skills. Until then, analyze your daily routine. Find where you might be wasting time. Figure out what takes priority in your life. A better system in coming.

Ever had one of those days? You know, a day where you're struggling to maintain your sanity and happiness? I can't really help with your sanity, but I can help you with your happiness.

Starting today, I'll be presenting a new series:
"28 Days to a Happier, More Productive You"

I know what you're thinking, "You can't fix me in 28 days!"
Don't be so sure :)

Besides, it's not me who'll be fixing you. You'll be fixing you.

Each "Day" will be a new exercise. A practical look into your life and how you're living it. I recommend you print each blog post and do the exercise with a pen or pencil. Then compile your notes as you move on to the following exercises.

We'll start by assessing where you're at. Let's figure out where you're lacking and where you're excelling. It might be that your personal life rocks and your professional life stinks. It could be the other way around. It could be that your life is gravy. You won't know until you start digging.

So who is this series for? Everyone! Whether you're a seasoned pro or a complete newbie. You could be a top sales professional or a small business owner. It doesn't matter where you're from or who you know. The lessons we'll be talking about will apply to you.

Now I have to warn you. You may find out things about yourself that you don't like. That's OK! Let's work on fixing those things. On the flip-side, I'll bet you'll find exceptional qualities you never knew you had.

I'm excited for you! Are you ready?

Without further ado, here's Day 1 of "28 Days to Happier, More Productive You"

DAY 1: Self Assessment
So the first thing you need to do is figure out whether you need to improve. In order to get a baseline, rank the following statements on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 that you don't agree, 10 that you strongly agree). Feel free to print this post and keep it on file.

1. I need more time for myself    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
2. I need more time with my family/friends    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
3. I need to spend less time at work    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
4. I am not productive with my time    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
5. I want to improve my quality of life    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
6. I want to make more money    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
7. I am concerned about my health    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
8. I am stressed out    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
9. I am not happy professionally     1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

10. I want to make a change    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Now add up all your scores and write the total here: _______
Compare your total score to the following grading system

• (1 - 25) Your life is pretty great. Congrats! Did you recognize areas you could improve in? No one is perfect, but let's push for perfection.
  
• (26 - 50) There are definitely areas you need to work on. Are you getting a better ideas where? You're in the middle of the pack. Are you ready to be at the top?
  
• (51 - 75) You're only a couple steps away from losing control. Work may be taking over your personal life. Family issues may be affecting your work. Let's start working now.
• (76 - 100) You are in need of some major change. You've probably lost complete control of your time and you might find your energy and motivation are lagging. Are you ready to make some big changes?

Now that you have a better idea of where you stand, start thinking of ways you can change. In the coming days and weeks we'll be talking about specific things you can implement that will improve your quality of life.

But don't wait! Start thinking of ideas on your own. Show your spouse or one of your trusted friends how you scored yourself. Ask them for help. The journey's only just begun.

Stay tuned for DAY 2 coming soon.

Here's to your success!

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