Work/Life Balance…a term that’s been overused and manipulated to the point where it’s starting to lack meaning. This is partially why I like to say Life/Work Balance instead.
Yes, it can feel elusive, fleeting and maybe even unattainable. But I can speak from experience that it’s just a feeling, y’all. This balance thing truly does exist, especially when we look at it as an act instead of a destination.
Read on to learn some of my personal insights and tips around how I’ve created balance in my life, and maybe even instill some hope and motivation to go make it happen in yours.
First and Foremost: Assess Your Yes
Awareness is the first step in any endeavor. The top interrupter of life/work balance is saying yes to everything. This typically comes from a place of people pleasing, perfectionism and wanting to be everything for everyone. Trust me…you’re not alone.
Spend 5-10 minutes taking inventory of where you’re saying yes throughout the week. Work, family, church, volunteering, school, fitness, social events, etc.
Look at your list of yes’ and ask yourself “do these support my desire for a balanced life, or are these working against me”?
Sometimes just seeing that list can give you instant clarity into the fact that you’re overextending yourself. And while this comes from a place of caring, it’s one of the main ways you’re creating the imbalance in your life.
Now that you have all of these yes’, it’s time to prioritize which of them need to become no’s. Anything that’s working against your pursuit of balance, anything that’s draining your energy, anything on that list that immediately gives you overwhelm or the ‘icky’ feeling…those things need to become no’s. Pronto. And I know that brings up super uncomfortable feelings, so keep reading :o)
I do this Yes Inventory exercise regularly to keep my yes’ and people pleasing in check. It’s truly mind blowing to see how a simple two-letter word (n-to the-o) can start to introduce balance into my schedule and my soul.
Secondly: Own Your No
Let’s face it…each one of us is an amazing creature that has so much to give (if you don’t believe that, we need to talk!).
And because you’re so amazing, the world is going to want everything you have to give. So it’s up to you to exercise your ‘no’ in a healthy and managable way.
When you’re clear on what brings balance vs. what throws it off, it becomes easier to exercise your ‘no’. All we need to do is learn how to be comfortable and confident in saying it.
I know from experience that saying no can feel uncomfortable and downright foreign. If you struggle in this area and could use some help determining why, when and how to say no, shoot me a request for my Owning Your No Cheat Sheet.
After you work through the Cheat Sheet, you’ll be in a better position to start saying no in a way that not only feels amazing, but also starts to bring balance into your beautiful life.
If you’re still not clear on how to do this, schedule a free 15-minute consult and we’ll put a simple best-next-steps plan together.
Last But Not Least: Live and Work With Purpose
Knowing that what we do throughout the day has incredible purpose in our life and the lives of those around us, provides a sense of fulfillment that permeates our mental, emotional and physical health in amazing ways.
When you are living and working in alignment with your purpose, life/work balance organically materializes! (Again, speaking purely from experience.)
This isn’t a meaning of life question, but rather getting clear on what lights us up so we can weave that into our life and our career. Purpose is a simple thing to figure out and can shift as we do throughout our life.
If you know your purpose, great!! Start making small adjustments to your work and your commitments that help you create more time and space for working within your purpose.
Not sure what your purpose is? Also great! I know this word can send people running for the hills, so I created a simple Purpose Formula Worksheet that can help you figure it out. Shoot me a request for this Worksheet or schedule a completely complimentary coaching session to spend an hour with me to kickstart this life-giving journey for yourself.
Bonus! Life/Work Balance Health Benefits
Having this balance is the key to overall health and well-being. Here are some of the top benefits of living in balance:
- Increased sense of joy
- Lower levels of stress
- Increased energy
- Boosted performance at work / home
- Strengthened immune system
- Increased mental clarity
- Better balanced blood sugar (less cortisol spiking)
- Increased quality of sleep
- Revitalized libido
- Healthier relationships
This list could go on! Who doesn’t want all of the above?
“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” – Jana Kingsford
