How to Create Balance

 ↡ FINDING BALANCE ↡

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by your own schedule wishing you had more balance in your life? How about simply just finding time for the things you want to create time for? 

I often hear people saying, "You have to give something up to get balance." I'm gonna throw a curve ball and say the opposite actually...how about just one concept, one way of tweaking the brain toward finding fulfillment in what BALANCE means to you.

The minute I switched my brain to leading with intention and purpose, was a pivotal moment for me. I remember being a newer stylist, sitting around and waiting for the busy bus to roll in. I sat around sulking, so wrapped in my thoughts about not being busy, that I kept myself BUSY with what I felt I didn't have...balance. I decided at that very moment...if I was going to spend time away from my kids, hobbies, cooking, hiking, being with friends, I would have to adjust something...and I'll give you a hint...it wasn't to give up something. It was to take MORE on!

So why is it we struggle so much in finding balance? Today we live in the world of INSTANT. We order a car to pick us up the minute we step out the door, we post & see everyone documenting the perfect parts of our lives, we even order coffee on an app to pick up so we don't have to wait in line. Yet, the cycle goes round and round. So the answers don't have anything to do with how busy we are, how many irons we have in the kettle, or how many hours of sleep we get. Only YOU can answer what balance means to you. But in order to achieve it, a mindset has to happen first...purpose and intention.

I'll say it again to really drive this one home, because balance is a personal journey...
The answer for me has become my motto, "Leading with intention and purpose."

What does that mean you might ask? It means creating a road-map in it's simplest form. So to keep up with my traditional posts, lets go ahead a create a checklist. This checklist will cover ideas in ways you can create space to lead better with intention and feel less overwhelmed, therefor getting you to your ultimate goal of feeling balanced.

1. Start a new routine. Nothing resets the mind faster than resetting routine. Wake up 30 minutes early, turn on some music, and start your day with stretches. Try a new way to work. Eat lunch someplace different.

2. Use your calendar, not just your phone! Use a physical calendar to see what your month, week, and days look like.

3. Create a checklist and divide it into categories. Separate WANTS vs. NEEDS. Wants would be things like taking a relaxing bath, going to brunch with friends, or watching your favorite TV show. Whereas needs are the things we just have to do to survive on a regular bases...aka adulting. Needs would be going to work, paying bills, making medical & dental appointments, or grocery shopping & making dinner.

4. Take your categories and create a game! Create a layout on your calendar by sprinkling a combo of wants and needs with options throughout the month, then fill by week, then narrow by day.

5. Schedule downtime. No one knows themselves better than you. I literally schedule specific days to NOT schedule anything so I can decide that day if I want to take a ME day or be spontaneous.

6. Focus on the task. Often times distractions can be a major time-suck. When I schedule time to write, I make sure that is all I work on for the set duration I give myself.

Now I always say, "Those who give the best advice need to take their own." And the big "B" about Balance is that it's always shifting and changing according to what we prioritize at the moment.

I hope you found this article useful and if you like what you read, made sure you subscribe so we can stay in touch! Feel free to message me if you'd like to see me cover other topics in future blogs!

XO
-Ambrosia