Having “balance” in your life should not mean you need to do it all. It is not some magical juggling act where we take on everything we can and make sure to keep all those balls high up in the air. So what now? How do we find a way to truly balance our lives… in a way that allows us to make sure we are finding time for ourselves, for our “essentials” and for accomplishing those things that really MUST be done?
- learn to say no
- know your limitations! It may be tempting to say yes to everything. Maybe you are worried about letting others down. Maybe you feel it is somehow your obligation to say yes to everything. But here is the thing, if you overextend yourself you won’t be doing a good job at what you have committed to. And you will leave yourself depleted and exhausted.
- ask for help
- okay, so sometimes saying no isn’t an option. Your kid is waiting at baseball practice to be picked up? Yeah, probably going to have to take care of that one. But maybe it doesn’t have to be you. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend for help. And pay it forward! If you see someone else struggling to “balance” it all offer a helping hand. It will go a long way!
So let’s start redefining balance! Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of believing that in order to achieve balance you need to do or be it all. Instead make balance about setting limits, asking for help and prioritizing our essentials.
Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.
Jana Kingsford
