Life Balance

Many of us are trying to balance multiple things in our lives. Among the key areas are: Work, relationship with our significant other, parenting, personal health, and spirituality. All of these require a major commitment, so how can we possibly excel at all of them? Most people thrive at some, but few are able to be good at them all. What is the solution to maintaining an acceptable life balance?

First you must realize that certain sacrifices must be made. The idea of working 80 hour weeks, sleeping 7-8 hours a day, exercising two hours a day, being a good parent by spending time with your children, providing your spouse the time and attention he/she deserves, and dedicating time to spiritual pursuits is virtually impossible. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day.

We first need to adopt the concept of moderation. Begin by asking yourself what would be good enough in each area of your life? I begin by looking at the best ways to manage my time. I go to sleep an hour or two after my children and wake up hours before them. In the evening I am able to catch up on some work, which cuts down on time that I spend in the office. In the morning, before my family is awake, I meditate (this is my spiritual commitment), then I plan my day (which also alleviates office time). I also use that morning time to exercise. While it would be nice to have a two-hour workout, it’s not realistic on a daily basis. I generally keep my weekday morning workouts to an hour.

As for children, I realize that I cannot spend as much time as I would like with them. The key is to make every minute count. The quality time is what they remember. I have a friend with two young children that was recently divorced. He sees them every other weekend. Every waking minute of those two days is devoted to the kids. He acknowledged that if he had this type of focus with his wife and kids while he was still married, he wouldn’t be in the situation he is in now. The point is that multitasking is a myth. Put all of your attention and energy on what you are currently doing.

As for my wife, we make it a point to have a date night each week. I also think it’s important for the two of us to take a vacation alone at least once a year. As I tell her repeatedly, eventually the children will leave for college and pursue their own lives and it will be just her and I. This is a way to ensure that we continue to have a strong relationship.

When it comes to life balance, perfection is not an option. If you go to the extreme in any one area, other areas suffer.

For this week, look at ways to manage your time more effectively. Next, be present and ensure that you are spending quality time in each critical area of your life. The key to successful life balance is moderation and focus.

If you know someone that can benefit from this advice, please like it and pass it along.