News from the Chicago Chapter

IREM 2017 Global Summit Remembered: Kris Haskins, CPM®

By Kris Haskins, CPM®
IREM Chicago 2017 Executive Council Member

The IREM Global Summit was held in our great City of Chicago in October of this year. The IREM Chicago Council attended Professional Education and IREM Chapter Education sessions, as well as some amazing Featured Sessions led by outstanding speakers.

On Friday, October 13, I attended the “Tightrope Tango: Unleashing the Power of Balance in your Life,” a session led by personal coach Ray Waters. Who wouldn’t want to have a more balanced life? Don’t we all wish we could be present at home with family and equally present at work, but can’t because life gets messy and hard to balance. In this session, I learned that there are certain principles, and by putting them into practice over and over again, you will be able to learn the benefits of a healthy life balance.

First and most important is learning to say “NO.” This is the real reason so many of us run out of time each day to do the things we “want” to do: Time with family, read a book, go to the gym and all the many other things we all want to accomplish each day.

We have to learn to keep our margins wide. Your margin is your breathing room, or that space between load and limit. The driver that keeps us scheduled to the limit is fear, or more precisely, the “fear of missing out.” And, frankly, no one wants to fall behind.

You have to know and keep your priorities, including work, relationships and family, and you have to have the flexibility to be able to change your mind. Be prepared to admit: “I was wrong. I made a mistake. And I am changing my mind.”

Another very important item is physical and emotional health. Eat healthy because the most impactful medicine is food. If you eat good food, you feel good and you will do good! Exercise will give you flexibility and strength, and completing some exercise regimen is better than no exercise. And always find time to rest and recharge for your own emotional health. Try to sleep at least 8 hours per night, and if you can’t follow this plan (like myself), it’s recommended to go to sleep and wake up same time every day, even on weekends.

Hopefully, some of this insight helps and makes you think…and remember:
Work is a rubber ball, it will bounce back. Family and relationships are glass and can shatter.

Try something different today: When you are at work – Be there! When you are at home with your family and friends – Be there!

Both groups will be better served and you will be a healthier, happier person!