All of us struggle to strike a balance in our jobs, families, marriages, health, etc. We just want to feel like we’re at the top of everything in our lives, but there’s so much to do that it rarely feels like that. In our world, there’s this expectation to spend time with your families, to hang out with friends, to be with your partner, to eat well, to workout regularly, to fly across the world, to side-hustle, and to share consistently on Instagram (only sort of kidding on that last one). With so many commitments, how can we really juggle our time, resources, and focus among all of them?
I don’t think we’re all going to be 100% balanced, but there are ways to make balance more workable. The main thing is to find out what makes you feel balanced and how you can let go of stuff you don’t need in your life. I want to share how I try to find a balance between work, relationships, and self-care in my life, particularly because I’ve got a lot of things to juggle right now. While I might be distracted, I don’t want to use ‘busy’ as a reason for not turning up in my life. In this post, I’m sharing how you can navigate a busy life and get more time for what’s going on. Keep reading for six tips to find a balance with a full schedule!
The balance equation
When people ask what I’ve been up to lately or how life is going, sometimes I feel overwhelmed by my own answer. My life has become considerably busier over the past few months. Im a full-time college student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania as well as managing 2 jobs on top it. I focus all my time on school in the morning, to going too work in the afternoon, and then returning home at night to complete assignments. On top of all that, I’m fitting in time to be with my friends, for family dinners, and for practicing self-care. It’s easy to feel totally unbalanced when you have to juggle so many things at once. The balancing act isn’t easy, and it doesn’t always work out as planned. However, there are a few key things that help me find balance with a busy schedule.6 ways to find balance
Heres some ways to find balance:
Be realistic with your time. In a day, there’s only so much you can do. If you’re trying to squeeze so much into your schedule for the sake of “balance,” it’s all going to confuse you. You’re also going to feel bad because you can’t do it all. Instead, take a look at your weekly calendar and see what’s more reasonable for you in terms of time and energy.
Let go of all the guilt you carry with you. The feeling that we “should” do something is the worst. It just makes us feel stuck in doing things that don’t really serve us. If you don’t want to go to the party, you don’t have to go because you’ve been invited. You don’t have to feel bad for not being social, either, if that’s not what you need at that moment. Take the burden off of yourself and concentrate on things with friends (or no people) that will give you energy alignment.
You should try to choose quality of quantity. Balance is about choosing quality over quantity. We always look at balance in terms of how much time we spend on things, but really it’s just how much effort we invest into them. After all, spending hours with friends doesn’t mean a thing if you’re looking at your phone all the time. When you’re with people you love, make sure you sit with them, listen deeply and engage with them. You’re going to get something out of the time you spend with them, even though it’s just a few minutes.
Getting yourself organized can help take some of the weight off sitting upon your shoulders. There’s no way to fit everything in if you don’t MAKE time for what matters. Plan, plan, plan, and commit to it. For instance, I’m preparing my day with what exercise I’m going to do in the morning, what my goals are for the day, and what time I’m planning to focus on each project. I know that planning sounds like the opposite of relaxation, but it lets you build space for what you want to do and who you want to spend time with (even if it’s yourself). That being said, don’t be hesitant to be adventurous at times. Spontaneity is excellent for balancing.
How do you find balance when busy?
I hope this post has given you some actionable tips to help you feel more balanced, even with a busy schedule. Remember that being busy isn’t a badge of honor, and it’s important that you stay present and aware with what’s going on in your life. Once you’ve mastered this, balance won’t feel so far off after all.