Finding balance can often feel like an elusive dream in today's fast-paced world. It can often feel like it is the thing that everybody else has managed to work out ... everybody but us!
We are constantly juggling work, family, personal aspirations, and the inevitable curveballs life throws our way.
A lot of the people that I work with are trying to 'have it all' and I often get asked if they are expecting too much.
Can you have a career and caring responsibilities? Can you work on a business whilst you have a full-time job?
I believe you can.
What if achieving balance wasn't just a myth?
What if achieving balance was something you had, not just everybody else?
It can be easy to have a routine that has been created by default, rather than by design.
If you want balance you have to create it. You have to design a routine and structure that will support your priorities and the habits and behaviours. You have to decide what to prioritise, and what to de-prioritise.
This blog will delve deep into the different areas that will help you create balance, why it is important, and offer practical strategies to help you.
Unpacking the Meaning of Balance
Balance in life refers to the state of equilibrium where different aspects of an individual's life are given appropriate attention and effort, resulting in overall well-being.
What is deemed appropriate is down to the individual. What are your priorities?
What attention and effort do you want to give to different areas of your life. Where you place the emphasis will be different for you at different times, having the awareness of what you want this to look like is important.
Finding balance is not something new.
Historical Perspective:
Ancient Greece: Philosophers like Aristotle spoke about the "Golden Mean," the desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency.
Eastern Philosophy: Concepts like Yin and Yang in Chinese philosophy emphasise balance and harmony between opposite forces.
Philosophical Perspective:
Stoicism: Advocates for emotional balance and resilience, focusing on controlling what is within our power and accepting what is not.
Buddhism: Has 'The Middle Way', which avoids the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, advocating a balanced approach to life.
These are great principles to use when we are exploring what balance means to us, and what 'in balance' looks like and feels like.
Balance isn't dividing our time equally amongst all areas of life. It also isn't a one-time activity, it is ongoing, dynamic responsive and needs to be reviewed regularly.
It is unlikely to be perfect and it isn't going to make life perfect for you either. It won't reduce stress but it will certainly reduce it, help you manage it and increase your chances of having a life that brings the happiness and fulfilment we all desire.
Understanding the Importance of Balance
When we have balance, on the things in life that look after our mental, physical and emotional health then it can have a positive impact on our health and happiness.
When we ensure that we protect the time and activities that look after our health and wellbeing we have more focus, energy and desire to work on the things that help us to evolve and make progress towards our goals.
When this is out of balance then not only do we lack the focus and energy to work on what is important to us, but often it forces our values out of alignment and our needs not being met and this can be one of the leading causes of stress, overwhelm and burnout.
Ensuring that we create a routine that is sustainable and helps support us to be consistent can be the key difference in helping us to create long-lasting balance.
Identifying Areas of Imbalance in Your Life
In the words of Dr Stephen Covey, start with the end in mind. Begin With the End in Mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination/end goal. You need to know where you are going, in order to better understand where you are now so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.
Identify what the ideal balance looks like. How will you divide your time?
What will be a priority? What will not be a priority?
What will you do more of? What will you do less of?
Once you know what the ideal looks like, you need to map out where you are now.
Once you have the present and future mapped out you can start to identify the steps of change you need to make and plan how to implement them.
Practical Strategies for Achieving Balance
Break down the steps of change into small, manageable steps.
Use SMART or CLEAR goal-setting strategies and frameworks to help provide you with a structure.
Once you have the plan and strategy, you need to manage your time and priorities to help make the change happen.
There are some fantastic time management techniques. The 'Eisenhower Matrix' and 'Pomodoro' techniques are very popular and timeblocking is also very effective.
Check-in regularly to review your activities and make decisions on where you will invest your time and energy to create balance. Weekly is a great opportunity to look at the bigger picture of the week ahead and a check every morning can help set the focus, and intention for the day ahead.
Once you have created the plan, boundaries, assertive behaviour and delegation/asking for help will all be critical for success.
Think ahead as to how you will need to approach this - failing to plan ahead is planning to fail.
Sustaining Balance for Long-Term Well-being
Consistency is key for creating long-term sustainable balance. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is trying to do too much, too soon, and then finding it hard to be consistent.
It is also important to be realistic about the amount of time you have to work with. What you can do, and what you will do, can often be two different things!
Make incremental changes. Slow change creates sustainable change.
Identify the habits and behaviours that need to be in place to support the changes you are making.
Reflect, review, and adjust on a regular basis.
Be flexible in your approach and be open to adapting to changes as they arise.
Learn as you go. When things don't work out as you had planned, or hoped for then spend some time identifying the learning so that you have this information to help you in the future.
Use the network of support around you. Tell people what is important and what you are working towards. Explain to people what you need and how they can support you.
It is okay to ask!
If you need help working all this through then feel free to get in touch for additional resources.
Your 'Find Balance' Checklist
Balance is not about perfection but about harmony and integration.
Recognise the signs of imbalance in different areas of life.
Prioritise self-awareness to understand personal needs and boundaries.
Balance involves managing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Practice self-compassion and forgiveness in the pursuit of balance.
Establish clear boundaries to protect personal time and energy.
Embrace the concept of "good enough" rather than striving for perfection.
Seek support from friends, family, or professionals when needed.
Cultivate gratitude and appreciation for the present moment.
Implement time management techniques to allocate time effectively.
Set realistic goals and break them down into manageable steps.
Develop healthy coping mechanisms for stress management.
Regularly assess and adjust priorities to maintain balance.
Engage in activities that bring joy and fulfilment.
Create a supportive environment conducive to balance.
Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques to stay present.
Limit exposure to negative influences and toxic relationships.
Communicate openly and assertively in personal and professional relationships.
Take breaks and rest when necessary to prevent burnout.
Balance work and leisure activities to avoid overworking or boredom.
Pay attention to physical health through regular exercise and nutritious eating.
Nurture emotional well-being through self-expression and self-care.
Foster connections with others to build a support network.
Learn to say "no" to commitments that do not align with personal values.
Embrace flexibility and adaptability in the face of change.
Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation.
Set boundaries around technology use to promote work-life balance.
Reflect on past experiences to gain insights into what brings balance.
Celebrate achievements and milestones along the journey to balance.
Remember that balance is a continuous process requiring self-reflection and adjustment.
If you need coaching support to help clarify your values and needs and how to make changes in your life to align with what is important then you can book a clarity call and we can talk through how coaching can help you.
You are also welcome to join our monthly workshops: Book your space here.
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