Create Balance. Find Peace.
There are many categories that contribute to overall wellness. Once all areas are in balance, it truly is a life-changing experience.
Often we don’t consider the various aspects of our life as health-related. Our home life, finances, friends, love life, sex life, career, entertainment, self-care, and mental, physical, and emotional health each have a huge impact on overall wellness.
In order to make noticeable improvements and really feel a difference, in our general well-being, overall, we need to consider all the above.
Some areas in your life are stronger and healthier than others. As you consider each area, you can rate yourself on a scale from 1 to 10.
One is, terrible, and you feel as though you need serious help in order to improve. Ten meaning, wonderful and you’re happy with that specific category in your life.
For instance, if you exercise regularly and are physically fit, you might score your physical fitness as an 8 or 9. A person who is an 8 in their physical fitness category, may only be a 3 in the finance department and maybe a 5 in your love category. These ratings change from time to time, as you can probably imagine. Sometimes in our lives, we are successful in our careers and in prime physical shape, while we may be unlucky in love. Other times it shifts, and it’s the other way around.
That is exactly why we sometimes feel unbalanced.
Keep in mind, it’s not that we’re striving for perfection or to be a 10, in our own opinions, for every category at the same time. Of course, the goal is to feel like we’re always striving for the 10. But, we must be realistic and give ourselves a little grace.
This is more of an exercise in self-awareness.
Where are you lacking?
What do you feel you should focus on improving in your life right now?
When you feel you need to focus on self-care or pay closer attention to your finances, for example, then you need to put some actions in place to address those areas.
Figure out what’s important to you.
After self-reflection, first, discover where you are lacking and what areas in your life need more attention.
Then, create a schedule to help stay more balanced.
To make it a little more clear, here is a daily example of how I stay balanced.
I journal every morning while I sit and relax with my coffee before I start my day (Mental-Emotional Health). Then, I spend time with my daughter, talking about what a great day she will have, maybe singing some songs and giving her breakfast before getting her on the bus (Family time). Once, the house is quiet; I spend anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on any morning glitches, in my Yoga home practice (Physical and Spiritual Health and Self-Care). Next, I shower and head out to work for the day (Career Health). After work, I will check bank accounts for recurring payments, balances, or alerts and pay bills, if they weren’t already (Financial Health). Then, I prep dinner, clean the kitchen, sweep the floor, and throw in a load of laundry while dinner is in the oven (Family/Home Care Health). After a great conversation during dinner with my husband and daughter, I delegate the clearing and loading the dishes into the dishwasher to my daughter and husband (Family Life Health). Then, I switch laundry from the washer to the dryer, sit with my feet up and read a few chapters of my current, favorite book (Home Care, Mental Health and Self-Care). I will make a few calls (some days meet for a drink or a coffee) to chat with my mom, sister, or a friend (Family/Social Health). And finally, end my evening with prayer time with my daughter and cuddling with my husband (Family, Spiritual and Romantic Health).
The schedule is, of course, fluid.
Keep in mind not to get too obsessed over scheduling every minute. The point is self-awareness. Remember to address all aspects of your life and give attention to where you feel it is most needed.
Attention goes where energy flows!
You do not have to focus on every area, every day unless you want to. However, the closer you can get to maintaining every aspect of your health, the more balanced you will feel.
Now it’s your turn. Try all the things. Have fun. Be adventurous. Discover what makes you feel great inside, as well as outside.
Self-care is not selfish, it’s necessary!
Take care of You!
Gina
