You hear it all the time: “Make sure you have a work-life balance”. What do you think when you hear this? Do you know what it would take to create or maintain an effective work-life balance?
Over the past few months, I’ve been helping many clients who have reported a lack of balance in their lives. Sometimes, they don’t even recognize it as a lack of balance because they are so focused on the results of the problem. Many physical and emotional symptoms are a product of a poor work-life balance. It can be a tricky thing to nail down but gaining a work-life balance will affect you in very positive ways.
One of the most important aspects of having a balanced life is integrating work and family life. Gaining this balance does not start in the workplace. Instead, it’s important to look at your priorities, and let this guide you in your decisions.
Managing family commitments and a career can be challenging, especially for women who have younger children. Women with both a family and a career are not the only ones who are affected, as many people in their 20s and 30s find themselves over-scheduled, over-worked, or lacking an ability to prioritize time effectively.
It’s easy to believe that perfection is possible, as our culture is full of images of success and beauty. A quick scroll through your Instagram feed or watching television can have you thinking everyone but you is experiencing enough sleep, has enough money, no stress, and loves their life. If you look closely at those assumptions, you can know they are unrealistic.
On some level, we all want to be able to have it all, and to get it right now. Chasing this dream causes suffering. It’s important to work with the life you have, tweaking it to maximize your happiness. Integration is important, bringing all the aspects of your life into an interconnected whole.
What are your roles, your responsibilities, and your goals? Bringing these varying pieces together in unity will help you feel a sense of harmony. This will create greater happiness and appreciation for your life.
Getting clear in your priorities and defining your own success will create a better balance in your life. You’ll know what’s important to you, so when it’s time to make a decision, you will incline towards the option that aligns best with your priorities.
These decisions are very personal. Doing what is best for you and not worrying if your definition of success matches society’s expectations will bring you great relief. A greater sense of peace will be achieved when you do what makes sense for you.
By succumbing to the demands of your job, or letting others decide how you spend your free time, you will feel like you don’t have a choice. This creates unhappiness, as we all want to feel free. Having multiple interests enriches your life, so scaling back isn’t always the right option.
By stopping to reflect on your decisions, you can communicate your needs more effectively, and voice your priorities not just to others, but to yourself.
Helping others to get unblocked from living their dreams is very rewarding for me. My Abundance Program can help you move past issues that are stopping you from living the life you want, including having a greater work-life balance. If you would like to know more about how I can help you achieve your dreams, please check out my website, at https://thehealingpendulum.com/services/abundance-program/.
