Dear Counsellor:

I find that I am overwhelmed with the multitude of things that I have to do. Time is always evading me and I feel stressed. It would seem like I need a personal assistant. I need help.

- Thelma

Dear Thelma:

Time is a commodity that is fixed. There are only 24 hours to each day, seven days in one week and 12 months in one year.

One of the essential skills that we need to survive is organisation. We need to be able to organise our professional and personal lives. Make a list of your activities for each day for a week. Try to identify the activities that are priority to you. Activities that are priority have to be taken care of.

In your review, you will find tasks that someone else can do. You need to learn the art of delegation and supervision. Many hands make light work. However, you need to delegate tasks that the individual can do competently and effectively. Therefore, don't delegate tasks that the individual cannot do.

We need to work with others as part of a team to accomplish the goals that we have set. A team exists at work and at home. Review the activities/chores from time to time and rotate them if this is possible. In organising, you need special places for the various items. This will prevent you from searching for items and wasting time.

Making lists is vital. You need to have a list of telephone numbers and addresses of the individuals with whom you do business.

Whenever you need a number or an address, it should be easily found. Keeping a diary is a must as your memory can hold only so much information. These days there are electronic diaries to help individual keep track of their activities.

Therefore, you need to organise, plan, delegate, make wise decisions and generate useful solutions. You need to be solutions-focused and prioritise your goals. Problem solving and conflict resolution should be at the top of your list of priorities.

Make time for yourself. There are basic activities of daily living. You need to include exercise in your daily routine. There is only one person who is interested in your welfare - and that is you. Therefore, attendance to your own needs should be of utmost importance. When you can take care of yourself, then you will see clearly to take care of others.

Dear Counsellor:

I have a problem with my weight. I have been trying to lose weight for the last two years. I am not gaining weight, but neither have I lost any. Sometimes the scale shows me that I have lost 10 lbs but some months later I have regained it. It is very frustrating.

- Annmarie

Dear Annmarie:

Weight management is a very challenging activity with relapses, recurrences and poor health. There is a vast amount of information on weight management. Whenever you have a health problem, you need to research the topic and become an expert on it. Therefore, you can gather information by searching the Internet.

Weight management is tricky, as there are many aspects about which we are not clear. No two individuals will respond the same and what works for one person, may not work for the other.

Therefore, you need to make a list of foods eaten daily for a month. One also needs to itemise the activities in which you participated which involved food. Many people attend seminars and meetings where there are fattening foods. This analysis will give direction as to your eating pattern.

As usual, self-analysis is important, as we need to identify the triggers for our eating. It is common knowledge that some people who are depressed eat a lot of sugary foods. In this situation the individual is trying to comfort and nurture himself.

Weight management is a lifelong activity and you need the help of a dietician and a counsellor.