Modern life, with all its conveniences and time saving gadgets, holds the promise of a windfall in leisure time. But a quick review of your weekend activities, a flip through your personal calendar, or a glance at your email inbox and one thought is clear -- the struggle to juggle is a worthy adversary. Finding the time and energy to fit it all in means you're overworked, overextended and overwhelmed.

Researchers say we're busier now than we've ever been. The magazine American Demographics said that today's average married couple labours a cumulative 717 hours more each year than a working couple in 1969.

In a November 1999 survey, one-third of men and women aged 25 to 44, representing just over three million Canadians, considered themselves workaholics in 1998. Yet only one-quarter said they planned to slow down in the coming year. Similarly, just over half of the same age group, or about 4.9 million individuals, felt that they did not have enough time for family or friends. One in three were dissatisfied with the balance between their work and family life. Almost as many said that they felt trapped in a daily routine.

Furthermore, 85% of full-time employed, married women with at least one child at home and 79% of their male counterparts felt that weekdays were too short to accomplish what they wanted. About half of them reported that their first priority, given more time, would be to spend it with friends and family.

So while we all want more free time, we accept less. Instead of taking time out to re-energize, we push on and continue with the hectic and stressful days. Instead of order in our lives, we live in chaos.

Yet we'll spend time and effort planning our careers and our work, but when it comes to free time and how to get the most from it, we throw away these same planning tools and take what comes. Why not use the same thoughts basic to planning and apply them to free time? Planning is essentially a three question process; where are you now; where do you want to go; how will you get there. Why not take the same approach with your personal life and personal time? Where are you today? Are you moving too fast? What life do you want in three or five years? Where do you want to be? It might be fine to work 50 or 60 hours a week today. But do you want to be doing that in ten years time?

Sometimes the best thing to do with five free minutes is to not look for another task to fit in, but to take some quiet time. The next time you have five minutes, resist filling the moment with a task. Instead, consider other things in your life that give you happiness and what you can do to enjoy life's greater pleasures.

Maybe you want to start a savings plan now so you can have the money later to buy that sail boat, or the lakefront cottage you've been dreaming about. Putting money away for a much deserved family vacation can also keep you refreshed and re-energized knowing there is something exciting just around the corner.

If you are ready to relax and have some fun, click on the Planning Tools button and get yourself started in right direction!!

Cool Million
Want to save $1 million? Of course you do! Print a report that details when you will hit a cool million, simply by entering information about your current savings plan.
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Savings Goal
Everyone wants to have a healthy savings account. But how do you get there? See a report outlining when you will hit your target by entering information about your current savings plan.
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Savings Calculator
Every little bit counts. Discover how consistent investments to your savings account can help you reach your financial goal.
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Rate Comparison Calculator
Compare how much interest your savings will earn at different interest rates. Rates can be obtained by calling your credit union or bank, or by visiting their websites.
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Personal Debt Consolidator
Debt consolidation is an excellent way to reduce your monthly payments while satisfying all your credit obligations. See the advantages of combining your credit card bills, auto loans and other installment loans into one payment.
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