Is Balance A Bunch Of BS?
What exactly is balance and what does it mean to live a balanced life?
I don’t know what the textbook definition is, but to me when someone talks about having a balanced life it means that each area of my life fits into a neat little compartment and I always have plenty of time to do everything I want. Reality check. If you have a family that includes kids at home, are running a business and have any personal interests of your own that is NEVER going to happen.
Does that mean you should just give up and not even try?
Heck no. It just means you need to change your approach, because if you are striving for balance, you are setting yourself up for failure.
It’s about creating boundaries around your time and energy.
Carve out time for yourself and your family. Make it an appointment and make it in pen. When your client calls and has to meet at the time that you have set aside to do something with the kids or go for a walk by yourself or out to dinner with your husband tell your client you will need to meet them another time. I realize that is enough to make some of you hyperventilate, but here is the reality. Life will go on and your client will be fine with meeting at another time. And by the way, you need to leave your phone at home during family time. Crazy I know, but try it. It is liberating and so nice to fully be present in the moment!
Here is what happens when you do this:
~ You will have more energy because you did something that makes you happy and feeds your soul
~ Your clients will respect your boundaries and your business will be just fine. (People are more than fine with you having boundaries, they just need to know what they are.)
~ You may not be balanced, there will always be more work to be done or you will wish you had a little bit more fee time, but you will be happy knowing that you made time for what is important to you and got a chance to truly enjoy it.
So give it a shot. Let yourself off the hook on the balance BS and set your boundaries around what is important to you and feeds your soul.
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Love this Nicole. Balance is such an over used buzzword these days. I love the idea of putting family time on the calendar in pen – giving it just as much importance as everything else – and honoring it. That is fabulous.
Thanks so much Amanda!
xo
Nicole
Nicole:
Great blog. Know so many people who won’t allocate time to do that which is really important in the big scheme of things.
All the best,
Herb
Thanks so much Herb! Yes, it is amazing how easy it is to waste time on things that are ultimately irrelevant.
All the best,
Nicole