It is important for me to take some time to myself at lunchtime. Being outside, in the fresh air, reading my favorite book is my sanity. After work, I make it a priority to take a long walk with my husband and dogs before starting dinner and beginning my home life.

I make a point to eat healthy and get plenty of sleep each night. I give myself one hour to prepare for the day before I get ready for work. I set weekly goals instead of daily goals, giving me the flexibility to adjust for changes. The most important thing I do is take a 30-minute walk at lunch each day. It clears my mind of the morning and I come back refreshed and energized for the afternoon. I will even stay later in the evening if needed to ensure I have my mid-day walk.

When my kids were in school, I made it a rule to attend every sports event, concert or other activity they were involved in whenever I wasn’t traveling. I still take my wife on a date either on Friday or Saturday night. We’ve done this for over 30 years and it’s a great way to reconnect after a busy week. I sometimes have to work on Saturdays to catch up, but I always save Sundays for worship and family time. It’s fun (and pretty wild) to have all 14 grandkids over on Sunday night!

I try to leave work at my regular scheduled time. If I do, I reward myself with 30-45 minutes of exercise, what I call, “me time.” I also dedicate part of my weekend to preparing food for the next week. I toss salads for workday lunches and pre-cook dinners so we have quick and healthy meals. It takes some careful thought and planning at first, but it quickly becomes a nice, easy routine.