Recently I was sitting on the patio of my local café, reading, planning my day. When it was time to get started on the responsibilities I had, I joked with an acquaintance how reluctant I was to get to working, that it was so lovely sitting on the patio! His comment was brilliant:
“Give yourself a break. Enjoy the day. Whatever you have to do will all work out in the end, and if it hasn’t worked out yet – it’s not the end!”
I encourage you to balance time in your life for movement, healthy eating, nurturing relationships, getting enough rest, and playing. You need all of these things in your life because you are a whole person, and because being healthy requires attention to all these areas.
We all have work responsibilities, family obligations and personal objectives. The key to healthy living is in balancing all of them every week, sometimes every day, and giving ourselves permission to do so.
Are the different facets of your life balanced?
Sure, there are times when some of our responsibilities dominate, when we must focus specifically on doing the best we can to manage everything.
Some days, weeks, months are more balanced than others. I think it’s important to look at the larger picture of our lives when reflecting on this topic. When raising young children, juggling work or changes in career, helping aging parents, moving or renovating a property, life can become a little overwhelming, and sometimes very unbalanced. I can say this from personal experience, and from working with people for so many years.
Even during these stressful times we can always become aware, and try to make small changes if that’s all we can make. Do the best you can – a little will always be better than none at all.
If things are seem to be a little unbalanced in your life ask yourself…
Is it a temporary situation given the stage of life you are in, or a constant challenge?
What can you do differently?
Do you need to shift your priorities?
How can you make a change, and what do you need to get started?
Where can you create more time in your life to support these other wishes you have?
Change can only happen if you choose to do so. Think about these questions, then act!