5 Key Aspects of Life Balance
By now, you probably understand that living a good life requires balance. We have a lot of demands on us that we encounter every day. From jobs to family, something or someone is always pulling us in multiple directions. A healthy life balance may seem out of reach, but there are a few vital aspects that we must consider if we are to be successful in having any degree of stability.
What Does Life Balance Mean?
Life balance or work-life balance may mean different things to different people. It entails finding a healthy balance in various areas of your life that allows you to have the best of multiple worlds.
The dictionary defines balance as “an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.” “A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.”
So, when you think of the phrase life balance, envision an ideal life framed within the foundation of stability – your stability.
Imagine a life in which you do not spend too much of it working, you do not spend too much time doting on your family, and you carve out time for yourself, seeing to your physical, mental, social, and emotional wellness.
Often, when our lives our without balance, we spend too much time in one particular area of our lives leaving another part or various spaces to suffer.
Here are five key aspects of life balance.
Taking Care of You: Scheduling Time to Live Your Life
Are you guilty of working too hard and not living your life? Sometimes we forget that we were put on earth to live and experience life. Take time to schedule a bit of living in the midst of your week. It can be as simple as going to the gym or going to a nail spa. These examples may seem simple, but they are also examples of doing something that is just for you and no one else.
Also, make time for your health. Go to the doctor for your preventative health check-ups and don’t forget to keep that dental appointment!
Finding Family Time: Take a Vacation
For those of you who have families, finding time to spend with each one can seem impossible when work is continuously calling your name. While you may do all that you can to make it home in time for dinner or reserve time on the weekends for your family, it still may not be enough. You must purposefully plan for vacation time with the family.
Do not let your vacation time go to waste. Take some time to see a bit of the world. Consider making it a staycation instead. Staycations can sometimes be just as effective as a getaway. The key is for you to get away from work and spend some time with the family.
Unplug and Refresh
Yes, the constant warnings of how vital it is to unplug are not without merit. Sometimes, to find balance, we have to unplug to refresh our minds and reduce the stimulation. Designate one hour each day to step away from your phone, turn off the television and laptop and simply…be.
Technology is everywhere today, and our ability to unplug is becoming more and more difficult. Therefore, to achieve a healthy life balance, you will have to make a conscious effort to remove yourself from the tentacles of this equipment.
Self-Awareness: Practice Mindfulness
Self-awareness is a critical aspect of achieving life balance. Practice mindfulness meditation to gain self-awareness. Use mindfulness to help you reflect on the now and examine your current feelings, thoughts, and actions.
Mindfulness meditation can have a powerful impact on your problem solving and decision-making practices and how it is each of these things effects how it is you live your life.
Communication: Learn to Communicate
Achieving a healthy life balance will require you to be a good communicator. You must be able to communicate what your needs are to gain life balance. Remember, most people are telepathic. They cannot read your mind and do not have any insight into what your needs are for life balance. Therefore, it will be up to you to communicate with others.