We are all familiar with the balancing act of life, whether it's a balance between work and social life, productivity and rest, or social and alone time. There is a call for balance in almost everything we do. After hearing so much about “maintaining a balanced lifestyle,” I decided to sit down and think about what balance means in my life.
After about a half hour of thought work, I determined that while balance is present in all aspects of my life, it revolves around my mental health. This discovery provoked me to ask professionals, entrepreneurs, friends, and family about balance in their lives. The conclusion of this work replicated my finding. Regardless of the need and occurrence of balance, the act sets the foundation for overall health and wellness.
I devoted some time to finding my footing and maintaining balance in specific areas of my life. I read articles, watched videos, and reflected on feedback from the community. The combination of this research led to my discovery of balance. If you want to find your footing and maintain balance in your life, you are in the right place!
The balancing act depends on the individual, but finding balance remains consistent throughout all aspects of life. Learning when to say no, defining boundaries, planning, increasing productivity, and practicing self-reflection guide you towards a more balanced and meaningful lifestyle.
How to implement this framework? The first step is to start writing—no more excuses for living an unbalanced lifestyle. You will develop better time management skills if you know where and how to maintain balance. Grab a pen and some paper, and find a quiet, grounding place to begin. The Grounding Moments Planner + Journal notes section is an excellent place for this. It is time to think about you and your life. In whichever format or fashion you like, write down a blurb describing who you are, where you are, and what you do.
After you create your summarized biography, write down your priorities. They do not have to be in any specific order. However, writing and identifying these aspects helps you find your footing and balance. Identify the areas of importance in your life, and address any gaps that need attention. Use the process of trial and error to reveal the key to balancing and prioritizing. If you feel like you are losing your balance, simply look back at this exercise and reflect.
You have the power to make the most of your time. You own your time. Control how and where you spend your time through this thought work. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, “balance prevents stress, and we all know stress causes adverse health effects and leads to 75-90% of all physician visits” (Rao, T. S., & Indla, V., 2010). This statistic supports the idea that balance directly correlates to one’s health and wellness, both physical and mental. So, it’s time to get up on your feet and find your balance. Once you do, you will unlock a new world of time, meaning, and peace.
References:
Rao, T. S., & Indla, V. (2010). Work, family, or personal life: Why not all three?. Indian journal of psychiatry, 52(4), 295–297. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.74301
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/March-2017/Mental-Health-is-a-Balancing-Act