Balance

Have you missed me? I have been covered up with work for a bit, and I have not been in a place or mind-set where I felt like I could blog. I am trying to change that and working on getting some balance back into my life.

Have you ever felt like your life is a little off-balance? Maybe you are spending too much time at the office, or you are so stressed that you are overwhelmed. I have been guilty of all of this for the last many months. It happens to us all.

I have always had an incredible drive to work hard. I am motivated and driven and focused, and I often do not know how to put things down and stop working. There is always one more email, one more phone call, or one more issue to resolve. I get so busy being busy that I forget the importance of balance. I forget the need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and prioritize. I need to remember to stop and smell the flowers. I need to find balance.

“Life is about balance. Be kind, but don’t let people abuse you. Trust, but don’t be deceived. Be content, but never stop improving yourself.” - Zig Ziglar

How do you know when your life is out of balance?

I am sure the signs are different for of all of us, but I imagine we do have some similarities. These are the signs I have noticed about myself:

I become more negative.

• I am a glass full person so when negative emotions like frustration, anxiety, or procrastination start to become persistent or my normal reaction, then I know I need to take a breath and ask why.

My body is not happy.

• Do you ever have difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, or your body is off because you have been stressed and tense? My family all has some sort of autoimmune issues so we have learned over many years to listen to what are bodies tell us. I have found the best preventative medicine for me is to listen to my body and slow down when it's not happy. When I am stressed or overwhelmed my body yells at me and it's yelling.

My eating routine falls apart.

• I have not been the size I would like to be for some time, but fluffy or not, I am aware if I am eating healthy. When I am stressed or overwhelmed that healthy focus stops and I start eating my feelings and anything that I think might comfort me. I am there and I know it is time for me to reset.

My home becomes a mess.

• Anyone that knows me knows that I am a little OCD. I strive to keep a clutter free home and I usually do. When it starts to get cluttered it is a sure sign that I need to take a breath and ask why. My house is there!

All the areas listed above need some work right now. I am sure there are other obvious signs, but these are the ones that have been very apparent as I have tried to determine why I have felt off lately.

How do you refocus and find balance?

I have been thinking about what I need to do to feel better in the short and the long-term and here is what I have come with:

Clean House - Literally

• My home is my sanctuary and when it is a mess I cannot think. I know if I declutter it and clean it, it will free me up and give me more time and energy for other things. It is a minimal effort and will go a long way to keep me sane.

Define my priorities

• I spent some time yesterday working on a fresh to-do list for personal and work items. When I am overwhelmed with the amount of to dos on my plate it is easy to waste my time dithering around versus taking action. Without a list of priorities, I lose focus and I am much less effective or efficient.

• Identify your priorities and make a point of doing something to work towards them every day.

Keep a healthy work-life balance

• Sometimes this is easier said than done, but I have decided this has to be a priority. I have set boundaries for myself this weekend and one of my new to-dos is to check in regularly with myself and ensure that I do not blur those boundaries.

• I am aware that work is important but there are other things which are more important. If I can concentrate on being as efficient and productive as possible at work and make a conscious effort to not bring work home with me, then I will do better work and be a much better version of me.

Do something I love every day

• This may be hanging out with family of friends, listening to music I love, cooking a good meal, spending time with Oreo, or taking a nap. It does not matter but before my head hits the pillow each night, I want to commit to having done something that brings me joy.

“Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls – family, health, friends, integrity – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.” - Gary W. Keller

Boundaries empower you to say no when you need to and allow you to let go when something is not in your best interest. I know for me when I am more balanced, I am a better person all the way around. I am a better daughter, sister, friend, and co-worker.

When you can step away from the craziness and just listen to the silence you gain a perspective that can help you to make better decisions, you gain a sense of calm, and you have the ability to see the big picture again. You can see the entire map of where you are going and appreciate the distance you have come as well as seeing how far you still want to go. Taking time for balance and taking time to smell the flowers is a very important part of being the best person you can be.

How are you finding balance?

Until next time…. -Leigh