Strike A Balance

Obviously each of us plays many roles in life.  The employee/worker role may take up the biggest amount of time yet that is merely a “part” of who you are.  You may be a parent, sibling, friend, spouse, volunteer, or caregiver – just to name a few.  Even when these roles bring tremendous satisfaction, each also may carry a hefty dose of responsibility, obligation and stress.

Just trying to find a way to balance numerous roles is stressful much less doing each role well.  Taking time to deal with one area of life may create feelings of guilt in another area of life.  Demands of time and energy can create havoc in life be it physical, emotional or relational.  Daily life demands can cause one to feel overwhelmed, off balance and emotionally volatile.  Those may be times when people reach for unhealthy coping mechanisms such as over eating, excessive shopping, gambling, using drugs or alcohol to excess, or even having an affair.

Talk about adding insult to injury!  So what are positive, healthy ways to strike a balance in life?  Consider this process to begin:

1. Take time to figure out what causes you the most stress?
2. Consider options to change the situations that are causing you stress.
3. Share your feelings to help reduce pressure.
4. Eat right, exercise, get plenty of rest.
5. Treat yourself to something you enjoy.

You might want to try these techniques along the way:

• Laugh more
• Slow down
• Pick your battles
• Be with friends
• De-junk your mind/home/car
• Take breaks
• Ask questions
• Delegate
• Sit outside for 10 minutes
• Listen to one joke a day

Make an effort to strike a balance in life daily.  Life will be much less complicated and much more fulfilling.  Strike a balance for health today!

“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” – Jana Kingsford