How Well Do You Maintain Balance?
If trying to maintain balance in your life makes you feel like a tightrope walker or a professional juggler, you’re not alone. Most of us have so many demands on our time and energy, life can feel like a three-ring circus sometimes.
We enjoy a greater state of well-being when various aspects of our lives are proportionate.
Usually people know when they get out of balance. They can recognize a disproportionate focus in one or more areas of their life while other areas feel neglected. Often, the neglected areas have to do with taking good care of oneself.
True or False?
Take this quiz to see how well you are balancing your various roles in life (parent, partner, employee, friend, etc), while also recognizing and fulfilling your personal needs and wants.
Add up how many of these questions you answer True or False:
- The only way I can successfully manage my life is to take care of myself physically and emotionally.
- Nurturing myself increases my capacity to help others.
- I eat healthfully and exercise regularly.
- I get check-ups, go to the dentist, and take preventative precautions.
- I set aside personal, quiet time for myself, whether I’m meditating or simply letting my thoughts drift.
- Creativity nurtures me, too. I do what I love, whether that’s cooking, drawing, painting, writing, dancing, singing or another creative pursuit.
- Reaching out to others enriches my life. I spend quality time with family and friends.
- Contributing to the world provides connection and purpose, so I give my time, energy and experience where it is most useful.
- I notice and heed the emotional signals that tell me I’m out of balance: irritability, overwhelm, resentment.
- If I feel that I’m catching a cold, I realize I may have stressed my immune system with overactivity, so I stop and take care of myself.
- When I need or want to, I say no to requests for my time.
- I listen to and honor the requests my body makes for such things as a nap, a walk, fresh vegetables, hot soup.
- If I have something planned for myself, I don’t just toss that aside when someone makes a request of me.
- I’m busy, but I find time to do the things I want to do.
- I’m happy. I regularly experience well-being, contentment, even joy.
The Road to More Balance
Did you answer more questions True or more questions False?
You may want to take a look at the questions to which you answered False and see if you can incorporate more of those things into your life.
Here’s an easy way to get started: Pick just one item to start with – the one that strikes you as most important for you at this point in your life.
Then brainstorm 3 possible ways you could incorporate more of that into your life. Then pick one of those three things and make it a priority to try it in the coming week.