Happy 2008, I hope this new year brings you rewards on many levels.

My resolution was going to be "To not make resolutions." Resolutions seem so formal. But maybe that is the point. After all, a resolution is a promise you make to yourself.

The polls are in for the top resolutions for 2008. Losing weight is #1- no surprise there. Finding a new job was in the top five and finding more balance/time with the family was also in the top numbers.

I was surprised that "find a new job" was so high on the list but of course it may have a lot to do with the desire to find more time with the family. That is always a challenge for small business owners and people who work in high-level corporate jobs.

Organization gurus advise the self-employed and otherwise workaholic corporate folks to schedule free time. But even when we do... there is always the cell phone and Blackberry to ring you back to reality. It is getting harder and harder to really be "off" in your head.

We all need to download the brain cache once in a while, even when we think we don't have time.  Granted, two weeks at a Caribbean beach may not be a realistic goal but small breaks can add up. A few hours fishing on the river, a mid-week visit to an amusement park with your kids or taking the dog out for a long day in the park-- all of these can provide you with a bit of rest that will free up your mind to come up with the next big idea.

Lots of professional women I know swear by their weekly manicure or massage appointments.  Others won't miss their pilates classes.  Wellness should be a top priority for all of us and that investment of time surely will help us in business.

Anybody out there with tips on how they make this balancing the family and job thing work?  I know there are lots of people out there who can benefit from the advice. I'd love to learn from you: beth.mauro@fwpubs.com-- Beth