Sunday 21 April 2013

Six Suggestions for Creating Balance in Life

By Hal Neff


Everyone goes through a period where life feels unmanageable and imbalanced. It is perfectly normal! But how can you achieve balance in these busy times?

Knowing what balance truly means is the very first step toward making a balanced way of life. Life harmony doesn't always mean giving equal levels of time or attention to every part of your daily life. That is the big myth!

Lifestyle balance is about understanding when to give a little more effort, when it is time to call it quits, and when everything feels just right.

These 6 suggestions will help you reach a better balance in life:

1 . Make time for you. Realize that you're important and valuable. Caring for your own happiness (and sanity) is definitely an essential element of making a balanced life. Even though for just two hours each week, put everybody else's needs aside and focus on you!

* Take a candlelit bubble bath while having a glass of wine and catching up on your favorite Hollywood gossip. Or perhaps, maybe simply take your dog to the park on a sunny afternoon. Do whatever helps you relax and enter a mindset of complete rest.

2 . Go for a healthy lifestyle. Both exercise and a conscious diet are necessary in order to stay healthy and happy. Put aside 30-minutes each week to exercise. Your workout can be anything under the sun, as long as it keeps you active.

* When eating healthy is a challenge, avoid taking unhealthy food into your home. You cannot be tempted if it isn't around the house. Not only will it maintain your heart healthy and your waistline in check, it'll promote healthy eating habits in your kids.

3. Leave work in the office. There's a reason you have a work schedule: your employer is just willing to pay you for a certain period of time every day. Do your family a favor and leave work at work. Avoid overworking yourself when there is not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

* If you discover that there aren't sufficient hours in the workday to maintain your duties, find a way to reinforce your productivity while at the office. If this shows to be fruitless, explain your situation to your employer. He might be willing to pay you for an extra hour every day or reduce your workload.

4. Make time for love. Rekindle the love by doing thoughtful gestures. Bring home a candle in her preferred scent, send flowers to the office, or perhaps hire a maid so your wife may spend more time doing the things she loves. Invest quality, uninterrupted moment with your spouse.

* Simply watching TV together isn't enough. Send the kids over to grandma's house for a weekend and plan a romantic getaway. If you are on a tight budget, plan a romantic camping trip. Nothing says romance like 2-days in the wild.

5. Live within your means. If your finances are giving you stress, it is time to reassess your financial budget. Create budget cuts in order to proactively work towards attaining your financial objectives.

* Reduce obvious splurges, like cable television upgrades and pricey cell phone plans. Cut down on your power bill by turning down the thermostat and doing laundry less regularly or during non-peak hours.

* As a last option, you may have to sell your house or downgrade to a less expensive rental. Sure, it is nice to have granite kitchen countertops and vast acreage, but can you go without? You sure can. Live within your means and feel the relief it gives!

6. Socialize. Hanging out with friends enables you to unwind and have a few laughs. Try to get together with friends at least once every month. Head out to dinner or host a get together in your home.

* When your spouse is jealous, double dating is a great opportunity to include him in your social life.

Leading an unbalanced way of life is one of the leading causes of stress for professionals. Inability to handle stress can cause several health issues, such as weight gain, migraines and even cardiovascular complications. The good thing is, you can be the exception. You could ward off health problems by nipping stress in the bud.

You are now empowered, prepared, and ready to make balance in your life! Practice these approaches each day and, one day soon, you'll feel the harmony of a balanced lifestyle.




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