You are one of millions of people around the world desiring work-life balance. Human beings are multifaceted. We have many different aspects of our lives that merely have any connection with the other.
More so, every area of your life demands equal and even maximum attention as the other. Hence, you seek to strike a balance; showing up for everything and everyone without letting the other suffer neglect. Is that entirely achievable?
You must have beat yourself up several times and felt guilty for not being able to meet all your needs in record time. Stop punishing yourself. It is not a better solution.
Finding Balance is a Myth. Finding balance is a modernized solution for our many responsibilities which almost compounds the problem it should be solving.
Balance is widely misunderstood and its application is highly overrated. If you critically thought about balance and what it truly means to strike a balance in our lives, you would realize that it is an unrealistic goal. This is important to note because every aspect of our lives requires a specific amount of energy, consideration and time. You should know how to set your scale of preference and choose prioritizing, rather than seeking balance.
Life Operates Through Rhythm. You can think about a scale for instance. When a scale is in balance, it means that nothing is happening. There are no movements, no vibrations, and no dynamics. You can also imply from this analogy that there is no life when there is balance.
There are so many articles, books, and videos that teach about balance. They contain information that suggests you should have created a balance between your work and life; between family and your goals; and between your emotional needs and other people. So many rules, tips and advice!
Life is a rhythm. To get through it, you may consider following the rhythm. For instance, your heart beats at a rhythm. The day and night, seasons come and go at a rhythm. The way we breathe and walk all give off rhythm. You need flexibility to course through the rhythm of life.
Stop beating yourself up. Be self-aware instead. Letting guilt into your mind because of your inability to attain “balance” does not give you the kind of energy you need to reach your peak. What you can do is develop self-awareness.
Self-awareness will help you notice how your lifestyle, habits, activities, emotions, needs, and environment affect you and the people around you. You will be able to detect your coping mechanisms and how you respond and/or react to difficult situations.
Self-awareness helps you stay in tune with your inner rhythm and teaches you how to ease into the “balance” you are seeking.
If you are overwhelmed by work, relationships, and other aspects of your life, this blog post has been curated for you. Read on to find out what aspect of your well-being you should focus on and how to find rhythm.
Stop Seeking Life Balance, do the following instead
Here are five key things you can focus on to gain better control over your life.
Prioritize
To prioritize is to decide and set one thing above the other according to how important it is for you. Every aspect of your life requires a variable amount of consideration and attention. It would be a futile effort trying to condition every part of your life to fit one another. Your priorities will be determined and influenced by your values and what is truly important to you.
If relationships are important to you, you should not feel guilty unproductive or out of balance when your natural rhythm keeps stirring you towards spending time with your loved ones. By dancing to the tune of your life, you can have fun, work hard, and find rest all at the same time.
Set Realistic Expectations
You will need to understand and wholly accept that you may not always be in control of situations affecting your life. Some days will be good, some fair, and other days will be really ugly. You must assume flexibility. It is advisable to let go of your need for perfection.
Therefore, when setting expectations, be kind to yourself. Be logical as well. You don’t have to condition yourself to do things because other people are doing so. Avoid comparison. Trying to be someone you are not most quickly knocks you out of balance.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? What do you derive joy and fulfilment from doing? These are questions you may answer when cultivating your ambition and setting expectations for your life. What are feasible ways you can leverage your strengths and improve your weaknesses? Whatever you do with your life should be subject to you. Set realistic expectations.
Practice Gratitude
Nothing helps you scale through your natural rhythm better than gratitude. When you can see your privileges and life’s benefits, you will realize that you are not doing badly. You should be grateful as often as you can. It takes away comparison and the nagging need to do “better.”
Gratitude helps you see your life from the perspective of possibilities and positivity. When you are grateful, you can show up more for your responsibilities.
When you are grateful, you stay in the present. For every activity, you engage in it with intentionality. Finally, you can focus on different aspects of your life at different times knowing you are worthy of the benefits associated with diligence.
Do Not Hesitate to Delegate
Do not drag your feet when it comes to delegating and letting other people take care of different needs that consume your time. Learn to seek support and help when you most need it. Finding “balance” does not mean you should be able to do everything by yourself. You should be able to maximize the support and resources around you that make your life and work easier.
By delegating, you have fewer things to worry about and focus on things more important.
Prioritize Self-Care
Learn to take care of yourself without guilt. Engage in activities that make you happy, and excited about your life, and help you relax. Spend time on exercises, hobbies, meditation, and all your favourite things. These things help you to recharge at every point and reduce overwhelm.
Instead of pursuing perfection and “balance”, choose to be flexible and more fulfilled. It helps you adapt better, and flow through life’s responsibilities and your priorities. It is more important to seek harmony than to desire a static equilibrium.
Here are five ways to find a rhythm
Set Clear Goals
Setting clear goals helps you to keep focus, and maintain perspective and zeal. Use the SMART goal-setting tips to stay on top of your game. Ensure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.
Your goals are like a map that shows you where you are, where you are going, and how to get there. If your goals are not forward, clear, and definite, it implies that you are lost in the course of life.
Goals are important for finding a rhythm. It gives you something to look forward to. Clear goals encourage you to have a workable plan to be able to achieve it. These plans give you a path to flow through. It is your first step to finding rhythm rather than merely seeking balance. Convert your dreams and aspirations into goals, and then into workable plans. You will see how quickly your life will change.
Set Firm Boundaries
To find rhythm, you have to decide what you want and what you do not want. You have to be loud, decisive, and firm about your likes, and dislikes. You cannot remain receptive to everything life or anyone at all throws at you. This would cause a lot of commotion that would be chaotic and overwhelming.
By setting boundaries, you take charge of your life. You become in control of what happens to you. You also can take responsibility for the consequences of your actions. It is not enough to just set boundaries. You must communicate your boundaries. It is good to respect your boundaries. As such, others can take cues and respect them as well.
Be Flexible
No rope walker is stiff. Rope walkers do not also seek balance. They employ flexibility. They can stretch their arms and dangle from right to left to be able to walk through the thin rope. That is a perfect way to illustrate life. If you are not willing to let go of rigidity, you will find it difficult to flow through your natural rhythm.
Do not be Rigid
Be willing to try new ways of doing things. Develop an open mind to impromptu situations. Always have a backup plan that helps you respond to emergencies productively. Do not insist on methods that do not yield any results. Do not be afraid to try new things. Be flexible.
Seeking balance is a modernized alternative to self-sabotage. It is due to you to give every aspect of your life the respective time, energy, and consideration it requires. Do not be afraid to make your own decisions. Find your natural rhythm and flow through it.
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