My sweet friend Sybil talked about this the other day in one of her posts, and I have been thinking about it ever since. Balance.
Balance: An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.
For such a simple definition, balance sure is an elusive little shit. For me it is anyway. I can't tell you the last time I felt like I was leading a well balanced life. I can't seem to figure it out.
Ideally my life would look like this:
Those things, family, career, health, and friends, are the very things that are important to me and that must be included to live a happy life. But in what amount?
I think the answer to that depends on the person. For instance, what seems "balanced" for me probably wouldn't seem "balanced" for you. That's the hard part. You have to figure it out for yourself.
Unfortunately, that takes some time, as well as some trial and error, and I haven't figured it out yet. Before I switched positions at work, I felt unhappy because I was working too much, for me. Now I feel unhappy because I am at home too much. Where/what is my perfect balance?
Eating junk food and watching TV makes me feel like a bum. Working out and eating healthy makes me feel like I am missing out on the tasty things in life, like cupcakes. Where's the perfect balance for me?
I wish there was a test you could take, yearly, and it would tell you the exact amount of hours you need to work before feeling burnt out, as well as the exact combination of exersize and cupcakes you should do/eat to be happy. Wouldn't that be nice?
What are some things you do to feel balanced? I'm definitely open to suggestions!
Balance is hard I completely agree. Right now I'm working an 8-5 nursing shift 5 days a week as opposed to the normal 12 hour shift every 2-3 days and I am jealous of my nursing friends who are off while I'm at work. I know I'll be singing a different tune when I start 12 hour shifts soon. But that 8-5 makes it hard to accomplish everything I want to do in a day. As for tips, I find that making A LOT of lists helps me remember to get things done so I don't get bogged down trying to do them all at once. And I drop just about anything to spend time with people I love because that's the most important to me! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a toughy, Whit! Such a deep post...I like it. It has me thinking! I'm sure it's impossible to ever feel like your life is completely "in balance", but there are definitely times I feel more balanced than others. I know I rant and rave about walking all the time, but it really does help me mentally (and I suppose physically, too, though it doesn't always feel that way! haha). There's just something about getting out and taking a walk every evening that really clears my head and helps me establish a sense of "okay, you got out and did something today"...even if it was just a thirty minute walk. And then, I feel like I can indulge in that cupcake! Or two :).
ReplyDeleteGreat post today! Balance is a hard thing to come by and it definitely can affect your day to day life it you don't have it.
ReplyDeleteI don't have tips for you because all the things you write about in your posts are the same things I am going through! When you figure it out...let me know :)
I agree so much with this. It is so hard to find balance. I think I posted about this once upon a time, or at least I thought about posting this. Great words!
ReplyDeleteWe are on the same wavelength for sure! When you find the secret, let me know! Thanks for following my blog! I'm a new follower of yours as well!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great question and I seriously wish I had an answer for you. I guess part of it is just listening to yourself and taking note of how things are affecting you positively or negatively. If it's too much on the negative cut back and if it's positive keep it even or add more. Hope you get closer to finding the balance we are all looking for.
ReplyDeleteBalancing is sooo hard!!!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on work and working out/junk food.
There's so many little things to balance that just build up...
I love the sounds of that yearly test ;)
Sometimes I like when someone holds my hand and leads me... :D
I always feel like I'm running out of time. It would probably be wise to sit down and figure out how to distribute my time more efficiently but I don't want my life to be that planned. These are difficult decisions and I totally understand you. If i had a solution, you would have had it in your inbox 5 minutes ago ;) But i don't, sadly.
ReplyDeleteI try my best to remain balanced by making time for "me time" or leisure time. I like having alone time sometimes. Hiking and outdoor/nature activities definitely help in that regard. I feel it keeps me sane :)
ReplyDeleteWe have a rule in our house that all electronics go off by 10pm. That way anything after that is good quality time and reading real books, not just online. It sounds silly but it has really helped us achieve some balance. It's too easy to be checking your email on your smartphone from bed and forgetting to really live.
ReplyDeletethis was such a wonderful, thought provoking post. each new year, i tell myself not to make a specific resolution, but to find more balance in my day-to-day life.
ReplyDeletei can so relate to so much of what you wrote. for me, it's usually all or nothing. i've always kinda been that way.
i find that i feel the most balance when i set aside even 30 minutes to myself to just think and be still. or take a long bath and not do anything but truly relax. when everything is rush.rush.rush there i never feel the balance. :)
xoxox
maria
Not sure if "perfect balance" can ever be achieved. Maybe there is just balance for each day, like today I needed to spend more time reading than yesterday and yesterday I needed more chocolate than today. Just more to think about...
ReplyDeleteOh my word, a test for life balance would be SO GREAT! I feel like balance is something that is so very hard to come by. The moment I find it, something changes and I have to find it again.
ReplyDeleteOMG in Student Affairs we talk about work life balance on all the time. Since I live where I work I constantly feel pressure to go to student events and feel like I'm not doing the right thing if I don't go BUT I feel like my life is out of balance if I do! I feel the SAME WAY about working out and sitting around I feel guilty if I just watch TV and snack but I feel like I'm missing out on fun things when I am healthier like ice cream! It's tough to find balance. I think as long as the scales are always moving back and forth and never heavily weighted on one side, you're doing a good job!
ReplyDeletei wish i had an answer ... i still struggle with balance and i'm 30! hahaha. but seriously, i wish i could take a balance test that way something can tell me what i need more and less of. i guess, if you're happy, then you're doing just fine :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I just started following you and I also just started my own blog. Would love for you to check out mine. You can find me at heydanixo.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteLoving the deep post :)
ReplyDeleteI think most people feel like this, including me! Having a child made me feel like I needed to figure things out even more and I think not being hard on yourself is one of the most important things to try and do. I think trying to do at least one thing a day that will make you feel productive is also a great way to feel balanced. A balanced day for me is when I talk to family/friends on the phone, eat something healthy, am physically active in some way, have a clean kitchen, and a laughing baby :) AND throw in a cupcake for a perfect day!