I have been talking with a lot of my clients recently about finding balance.  We have been working out ways to make this busy work-dominated life a little lighter by trying new things or mixing up the old things.  Also helping those that are trying to balance part time or full time work and the demands of motherhood.

Funny how sometimes my clients situations parallel my own!

We are all so busy.  What exactly is “me-time” anyway?

We are running around – often after others – moving from task to task and stopping only to catch our breath or fuel up with lunch or dinner.  Sometimes due to lack of time and planning even these food choices may not be the best choices.

The key to finding balance is in the first word – finding.  Exploring or seeking out ways to add balance to your life.

My clients suggest they have no time in their day – but that old cliche of ‘making time’ stands true.

What needs Balance?
First of all identify what balance is to you.  Look at a typical week in your calendar and monitor where your focus goes.  Work, friends who need advice, perhaps the demands of your children or their schedules.  Just ‘notice’ where your time and life’s commitments are right now.  Why do the scales feel heavier on one side?  Do you need more sleep?  More social interaction?  More education around something?  Perhaps you are looking for ways to work less and live more.

The Balanced Week
Come up with a plan of what your ideal balanced week would look like – you can draw out a template or use an old week in your diary.  You may still have some commitments that cannot be moved but really try and mix up way you do things.  Perhaps if you are too tired to work out in the evening you can get up half an hour earlier and go for a walk in the morning as the sun rises.  Or maybe take your trainers to work so you go for a wander at lunchtime and top up your midday Vitamin D.  Think about fuelling your body with good wholesome food (energy) to help you through your day.  Where is that new salad bar everyone is talking about?  Perhaps the TV schedule one evening is not really that interesting and you would prefer to settle down with your favourite book or magazine?  This is where you are looking to reallocate or make time or better choices with your time.

Try it!
The next step is to try out your new week.  It will feel different – may take a little getting used to but try and commit to trying your new things and see what impact it makes on your day.  The morning walk or evening yoga class may make you sleep better or feel more energised.  The change in lunch may fuel your afternoon with a productive work or outdoor play session with the kids.  Then keep trying it – old habits may need a bit of convincing to stay away!

If you are able to take back some control of time and then have input with things that you want to do then you will also generate a sense of balance in your life.

Good luck!