There are many reasons to want better balance in your life. Balance helps manage stress, creates space to be clear-headed, and present and promotes both health and happiness. When the elements of your life are in balance, you won't feel stretched thin or pulled too hard in any direction.
So what does balance actually mean?
The definition of balance is a “condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.” Essentially our lives are made up of a wide variety of unique elements from work to relationships to personal needs. These elements all clamor to be heard and paid attention to, and sometimes the noisier ones drown out the less vocal elements. Balance means giving the desired amount of attention to each of these various elements so that they result in a balanced whole.
I like to think of balance like a noisy flock of birds all squawking for attention. Work is squawking nonstop to the point where any time you try to shift your attention away, it keeps grabbing you back. Family is second in volume and persistence, needing you, and wanting more. While exercise, personal time, fun, and friends are quietly peeping in the background wishing they could be louder.
Balance is a practice and something that needs continual tweaking and maintenance. As your needs shift and change, the various elements of your life will fluctuate in importance. What might look like perfect balance today will look different next month. The trick is to adjust and reevaluate as you strive to find the right type of balance that works for you!
Step 1
The first step to creating balance in your life is to examine all the elements that make up your life. This is much more than just calling them work and life. Your “life” category can certainly get broken up into smaller pieces. Think about the relationships you are balancing. Or the passions you are hoping to pursue. And don’t forget pieces like fitness, self-care, and fun.
Then look at those elements and decide which ones are most important to you and which elements are not. Start with a list and include everything that is important to you.
Ask yourself these questions as you write your list:
- What are all the elements I am currently balancing in my life?
- Did I forget anything?
- Which of these elements are most important to me?
- Which of these elements are least important to me?
- What elements feel like they take up most of my time?
- What elements do I wish I had more time and space for?
Step 2
Step two to creating better balance is to prioritize all the important elements in your life. Reevaluating your priorities regularly is a great way to maintain consistent balance.You already know what is important, so this is your chance to rank everything and decide how much time you want to spend on each element.
Start by prioritizing what is most important. Work pays the bills and allows for financial freedom, so that’s important. However, exercise reduces both stress and anxiety all while keeping you healthy. And don’t forget the relationships in your life that combat loneliness and provide the connection and community you need.
Using your list from step one, write a new list ranking those elements in order of importance. From there, evaluate how much time and energy you should invest in the things that matter to you.
Start by picking a form of measurement. Do you look at time as the span of a week or over the course of a day? Then use the tool A.I.M to decide your desired amount of time for each element. A is the acceptable or minimum amount of time needed. I is the ideal best case scenario amount of time. While M is the middle ground between acceptable and ideal. Use this tool as you go down your list!
Ask yourself these questions:
- How do I want to measure my time?
- What elements are crucial and need to go to the top of my list?
- What elements feel l like a bonus and can go to the bottom of my list?
- What's the acceptable amount of time needed for each item?
- What’s the ideal amount of time needed for each item?
- Where does the achievable middle ground land for each item?
Write your new prioritized list and start AIMing!
Step 3
The third and final step to creating better balance is to schedule your time and stick to your schedule! I use my calendar as a tool, and this is my favorite part of the whole process. Contrary to popular belief, scheduling actually opens up MORE time in your life, rather than less.
Using your list from step two schedule your time, set limits, and create boundaries between everything you want to accomplish. Start with the items that need the most time, for example, work. If you are self-employed or working from home for the first time the separation between work hours and life hours gets a bit fuzzy. Schedule your working hours by putting them in your calendar. The most important part is designating when you will clock out and to actually stop working when you say you will.
Keep adding elements to your calendar until everything is included and they all have their place and time slot.
Don’t forget to schedule downtime. Seriously, put it in your calendar. Whether that counts as going on a walk, cooking something comforting, watching TV, or curling up with a book, designate that time in your calendar so that it actually happens. It’s important to recharge and give your mind a break so that you can come back fresh to everything else you want to accomplish.
The best part of using your calendar as a tool is that it helps keep you accountable. You know when work ends. You have set dates to socialize or reminders to exercise. And best yet, you won’t forget time for yourself.
Know that this first pass at your balanced schedule might not be perfect. Feel it out for a few weeks and tweak it where necessary. These strategies will take time and balance won’t miraculously appear overnight.
How balanced does your life feel now?