Seeking balance in the chaos

I stumbled across this quote:

“Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” Robert Fulghum

I like the fact that it covers work, study or applying thought as well as what may be fun or down time. So how do you make sure you have a balanced approach to your life. Life is made up of many things and for each of us that wheel of life may look different.

Typical examples of things that may be featured include:

Health & Fitness – Looking after yourself
Work- this may be your own business or an employer you work for
Study or Personal Development- things that you are or want to learn
Family – spending time with family
Friends – spending time with friends, this may also be referred to as Social time
Relaxation or maybe Holidays – ‘time out’ and recharging sits here
Religion or Spirituality – whatever makes you feel connected to the world
Financial – Financial goals such as house purchase or saving for holidays etc.

So if you were to draw your wheel of life first identify where you spend most of your time. Then notice where you do not spend so much time. Could this be where you need to invest in order to have balance?

For me, I have always enjoyed working, enjoyed my career and thrived on having lots to do with people. If I am honest and look at where I spend my time, it is largely balanced between family, friends and work. To gain some balance I need to connect with myself more that means spending more time on me. Be that Personal Development, Health & Fitness, or Relaxation and Spirituality.

I am trying to create Balance that works for me now. This will change as the months pass. As circumstances change. This is something I need to check in with.

For me I am going to try and balance my fitness goals…as well as doing hardcore exercise classes I am going to try yoga and stretching classes. Take a solo walk on the beach and take in the sunshine. I am tempted to try meditation and tame my monkey mind. I am looking to read when I can instead of zombie out in front of the TV. I want to make sure I am a present mum, wife and friend. Able to concentrate on conversations even though I am constantly interrupted by my children!

This should lead to me having balance, right?

So who is Robert Fulgham? He wrote a book in 1988 called All I really need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. A book of uncommon thoughts on common things.

87 Comments

- - coppin85 said
  - 11 Nov 2013
    3:58 pm
I really need to learn to relax 🙂

- - meltingmoment said
  - 03 Nov 2013
    8:42 am
Thanks for sharing this – I probably need to try to relax more.

- - missmanic said
  - 31 Oct 2013
    11:57 pm
Great article thanks so much. Inspired !

- - catgrrl3 said
  - 31 Oct 2013
    2:03 pm
I think balance is one of the hardest things to achieve

- - meimei said
  - 27 Oct 2013
    1:35 pm
Needs to find balance between work and family.

- - rainbownerds said
  - 23 Oct 2013
    7:02 pm
Great read thank you for sharing

- - emily_flores said
  - 13 Oct 2013
    10:28 pm
I have really tried to start focusing on my fitness at the moment

- - claret said
  - 08 Oct 2013
    9:18 pm
I have never thought of drawing a wheel of life to check my balance. Probably because I know my wheels are definitely in need of balancing!

- - lynzstevo said
  - 31 Aug 2013
    3:46 pm
I like to call it ‘organised chaos’ 😀

- - kali111 said
  - 27 Aug 2013
    2:40 pm
Fitness time is my one thing I do for just me

- - carriet said
  - 25 Aug 2013
    4:11 pm
Thanks for sharing need to do more for me.

- - welshmummy said
  - 23 Aug 2013
    8:42 pm
I keep saying ‘When I retire I’ll…….’ perhaps I should start doing it now. Great idea though to work out where I’m spending the most time and try and balance it out with other activities.

- - a-edwards said
  - 09 Aug 2013
    7:36 am
is there ever a happy balance
- earthlydelites replied
  
  10 Aug 2013 , 1:05 pm
  haven’t found it yet! someone let me know if you find the answer!
  - missangela replied
    
    11 Aug 2013 , 7:32 pm
    
    Lol let me know when you’ve found it .maybe then I can find mine.
  - tahlia w replied
    
    18 Aug 2013 , 11:47 pm
    
    me too! need to figure out this one!
  - missangela replied
    
    24 Aug 2013 , 10:05 pm
    
    Just be happy in the 1st place.
  - meros replied
    
    31 Aug 2013 , 9:02 am
    
    I dont know what you mean by balance of happiness.
  - kjgarner replied
    
    25 Sep 2013 , 3:18 pm
    
    I’ll do my best to be happy lol
- - meagan_cooper said
  - 07 Aug 2013
    11:11 am
A really great read and balance us difficult but ver very important for your spirit.

- - sunava said
  - 31 Jul 2013
    1:08 pm
,Thanks for Sharing ,great article

- - mrsfritz said
  - 23 Jul 2013
    7:34 am
Great read, thanks for sharing.

- - tammykilby said
  - 22 Jul 2013
    12:28 pm
great artical im loving reading it i need to find balance between my family an timeout to myself atm 95% of my time is spent with family.

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 21 Jul 2013
    11:18 am
This is just what I need at the moment. I’m about to enter the most stressful period of my life.

- - rachkap said
  - 13 Jul 2013
    3:54 am
Thanks for the helpful ideas!

- - kate_reid said
  - 10 Jul 2013
    12:55 pm
I love this article, balance is so important to healthy minds and bodies.