Balancing act: Don't forget to work on in-house balance, too

— Listen, listen, listen. I need to do a better job of this, but the key to making any of these plans work is to focus on your spouse when you are able to steal a few moments together. If you start getting distracted and drawn into a discussion of family issues that you can talk about during the "business meeting," make an agreement to call yourselves on it and get back on track. Remember, this is important!

This is all commonsense advice, I know, but sometimes it's helpful for me to hear someone else express what I already should know. And I'm finding that, just as it's important to find balance between my life at work and at home, I also need balance in that home life in order for me and my family to be happy.

I'm sure some of you have even better tips or ideas to help avoid this kind of unbalanced home life. If so, please let me know, and I'll share your thoughts in a future column.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go chat with my wife. The children are all reading or playing a game, so it's the perfect time for a mini-date!

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