Finding Balance: Navigating the Unfamiliar
We all want to feel like we're in control of our lives. The good news is that you can get there. There are simple steps you can take to help you find a balance between navigating work and the unfamiliar.
The first step is to manage the feelings of prioritizing yourself while you get outside of your comfort zone and experiment with your balance activities. It's natural to feel guilt or anxiety when you start making changes, but the more time you spend doing what matters most, the more you'll learn about what works for you and doesn't.
It's all a balancing act.
Balance is a concept that many people strive for, but few achieve. It means managing the things in your life that are important to you and finding a way to integrate them into your daily routine. Balance can be challenging because it requires you to get outside your comfort zone and try new things. It also requires prioritizing yourself while being considerate of others' needs.
If you're not sure how to balance it all, here are some tips:
Create a list of what you consider important in your life.
Create a list of what you consider important: family, friends, health, work, etc. Then rate each item on a scale from 1-10 (1 being the least important). From there, arrange them into categories based on their importance; for example, family first, then friends/health/work/etc.
Once you've arranged them into categories, you'll know which ones are most important and which need more attention or energy than others. Now comes the hard part — picking one category and devoting time towards it until you feel like it's time for another again!
Identify those activities that bring you joy.
We all have different things we love doing, whether playing sports or spending time with friends and family, volunteering at an animal shelter, or traveling around the world on a whim. Set aside time each week — even if it's just an hour — to do something fun or exciting that makes you happy. It could be something as simple as going for a walk in nature or reading on the beach instead of working through lunchtime every day.
Make sure to engage your mind as well as your body regularly.
If you only engage with one part of yourself, it can get too easy for the other parts of your life to take over. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that you're balancing both sides of your brain — physical and mental — at all times.
Exercise is a great way to keep stress at bay, but it's just one part of the equation. If you feel anxious or stressed, try meditating, reading a book, or listening to music instead. Try journaling; writing down your thoughts and feelings can help clear your head and give you a sense of perspective when things start feeling overwhelming.
Switch up your routine now and then by trying something completely different.
A change in routine can relieve stress by giving your brain a chance to rest and allow you to explore new things that may interest you. There are many ways to add variety to your life, such as taking up a new hobby, volunteering, or going on vacation with friends or family members who live close by.
It could be taking a yoga class on Friday afternoons instead of going out with friends or going to the market on Saturday mornings instead of sleeping late. The change will give you new energy and inspiration to tackle new projects at work or home.
You can't always control every aspect of your life, but you can take steps to help yourself feel more in control.
The first step is ensuring you're working on balance for the right reasons. It's easy to get caught up in the idea that balance means having everything just so — but that's not realistic or healthy. Instead, think about what balance means to you: Are you trying to reduce stress or increase happiness? Maybe it's both.
It's also important to understand that we all have different definitions of balance and what it means to us personally. What works for one person might not work for another. So when setting goals for yourself, remember that there's no right or wrong way to do it — it's whatever works best for your unique situation.