Okay, it's officially summertime. Feel like you never have time to relax? Or that vacation time means horrendous catch-up time when you return to work? Following are a couple of my favorite personal time-outs that help me keep things in perspective.

1. I am not THAT big a deal! Although I consider what I do important and I think my clients agree, it's not heart surgery I am performing! I have to remind myself sometimes to just get over myself and relax!

2. Am I having any fun? Fun is my litmus test. It's one thing to work till the wee hours of the morning because I lost track of time. It's another to feel compelled due to outside pressure. If I have too much to do, I need to either: a. Learn to say the Big N-O. or b. Prioritize my time better.

3. Volunteer with those less fortunate or remember someone who is going through a life-threatening or serious time in life. Helping others puts my situation into perspective. Am I fretting over stuff that would be thrown to the wayside if I got 'that one phone call' that would change everything? If so, time to think again.

4. Who am I putting on the back burner? If it's family or friends because of work, well... that is something that one day I will regret. So the heck with regrets! Live today to your fullest and shake out your to-do list! Pressure is only put upon yourself. Even if you have the stressiest boss in the world, you are only pushed to the limit you allow. Take control, breathe, and for heaven's sake (or your own) relax this summer!