“Is there such thing as balance?”
This seems to be the question that all the ambitious women out there are wondering. Between our careers, families, friends, and other obligations it can feel like treading water in the waves of chaos most days. But does balance exist?
Passion Knows No Patience.
If you’re here on this page and reading this article, then more than likely you are an overachieving, passionate, and career-focused woman. Not only are you hard working and determined, but you are passionate. You care about the work you are putting out into the world, you want to be successful, but more importantly, you want others to be successful too. Women of this stature tend to be impulsive and “all in” with their vision. They will go the extra mile to do what it takes to reach the next level. There’s an innate personal discipline that doesn’t host the word “no” in its vocabulary bank. This is where balance is but is that necessarily a “bad” thing?
What Is Balance?
The idea of balance is that all elements of life are getting equal attention. As multi-taskers, we have the tendency to run ourselves thin in attempting to meet this standard daily. Mainly this feeling of exhaustion and burn-out comes from meeting the needs of others before our own. Not only that, be we neglect our natural body rhythms and energy cycles that can help us be the most productive that we can be. We gravitate to the instant demand and need of the outside world by forcing tasks instead of letting them flow.
Not every day will follow the same schedule. Not all that is planned will get done. Balance is merely a fictitious representation of what we are truly seeking in self-love and self-acceptance as we sift through what life throws our way.
How Can I Find My Natural Energy Rhythm?
Everyone is born with an energy rhythm. You’ve probably heard some people be called “early birds” as others are called “night owls.” However, it can stem a lot deeper than this. I suggest you monitor your own energy rhythms for about a week and then budget your time accordingly. Check in with yourself during the morning, afternoon, and evening. You will see a rather consistent flow of energy throughout these times.
For example, I know that in the morning I am mentally my most alert. Fresh from a good night’s sleep and bursting with ideas. I can focus and create. This is my time to focus on tasks that require my mental focus and creativity, such as planning or writing. Come the afternoon my energy dips. I utilize this time to do “busy work” where I am not exerting a lot of mental or physical energy, or sometimes, I will even indulge in a small nap if I can. The evening, my physical energy will spike as my mental energy starts to fizz from the long day. I know this is a great time to squeeze in a great workout, but it wouldn’t do justice to try and write and be creative at this time.
If you can make this kind of observation within your own daily routine, you can start planning your tasks and “to-do lists” around these times to be your most productive and more in flow.
Be Kind To Yourself.
As a final take away, remember to be kind to yourself. Be patient with what comes at you. See it as an opportunity to do better as oppose to being setback. We aren’t meant to be in complete control all the time, so try to appreciate the lessons as they come. Success can be received in forms we haven’t even thought of, so work hard, be kind, stay patient, and make it all work in your favor!