The term balance is getting a lot of play these days. Attaining the perfect balance has practically become an Olympic event and about as attainable too. I remember a time when you could admit you were stressed and people would be sympathetic, now I find that there is a subtle or not too subtle lecture that emerges, “you’re doing too much” or “you need to find better balance”. So what’s the deal?
It is April and at the University and to put it mildly it’s a big month, it is not the time of the year when I recommend “striking a healthy balance” to my clients. They are job seeking, saying goodbye to friends, dealing with family pressures, completing huge projects and trying to prepare for exams. My motto for April is “Eat, Sleep, Breath” (Thank you to Brenda M for this life line).
Balance is a relationship between our lives and our health, in order for the relationship to be healthy and fulfilling, it needs attention and respect but can not require constant nurturing. Hey, if you can do that, excellent, but for most of us it just isn’t practical to tell a child that this is not her week to get sick. So how can we attract a better balance? Here are a few ideas.
1. Do your best. What absolutely needs to be attended to today, this week, this month? Prioritize one personal goal, make it small and manageable. (10 minute walk 3 times this week, buy a bag of apples and eat one every day on the way to work, say no to one thing that you don’t want to do, read one chapter of a book you have been eager to read). [click to continue...]
