Is your life out of balance? Just like when the tires are out of balance on your car, your life can get out of whack making it difficult to carry out daily tasks. But don’t despair, there are some quick ways for getting your life back in balance.
Of course, one’s life balance is an individual choice, determined by setting priorities as to what is important to you. As we age, some people take on more activities to balance, while others may not have enough different activities to provide balance.
According to some experts, there are a few areas in life that need to be balanced for optimum physical and mental health. These areas include such things as the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
Striving for balance
Some experts believe that the physical needs of the body must be met before trying to balance the other areas of need. Physical balance includes eating properly, getting adequate exercise, intimacy, and sufficient rest. Only after meeting the physical demands of the body is it possible to move on to the other areas. Some ways to find physical balance include becoming aware of physical addictions such as alcohol, food, medications, smoking and moving toward moderation. Getting regular physical check-ups, developing an exercise strategy, following nutrition principles and getting a good night’s sleep are also suggested for balance.
Another way to stay balanced is via spirituality, which many believe is an essential need of human nature. Research studies over the years have found that the influence of religion or spirituality appears to be highly related to a sense of well-being in all persons. Ideas for helping achieve spiritual balance might include taking time for quiet reflection, maintaining a personal journal, incorporating meditation and/or prayer into your life, becoming more aware of the world around you and the lessons it teaches, and practicing an open attitude.
Then there’s social balance which includes taking time out to give to others. Ask yourself what contributions you are making to your family and community? Some say its key to contribute to one’s community and environment as is interdependence with others, with nature and within the family to living a balanced life. Some ways to add social balance to your life might include volunteering in your community, displaying a caring attitude toward others, or performing acts of kindness. Think about how you give to others and how your life makes a difference. Find an area where you can make that difference.
Don’t forget about emotional needs, which often involve relationships with other people. Most of us need to have interactions with a variety of different people. Emotional balance includes intimate relationships with close family and friends, and the less intense personal contacts with other acquaintances. Emotional balance also involves how to deal with the human emotions such as anger, guilt, love, fear and happiness. Experts say it is important to find balance and try to keep a positive attitude rather than allowing negative emotions to build. To help achieve emotional balance, the experts suggest taking an inventory of relationships with other people and become aware of how you interact with them.
All of us have these areas we need to balance in our lives, but the needs of each individual will differ. Also, our own needs may change as we go through various stages of life. For example, some of us will have more needs in the physical while others may need to meet more social or spiritual needs. As adults mature, we become more aware that time is a non-renewable resource, and we make our choices differently than when we were younger. As you look at your own life, consider how these needs or demands have changed over the years as your lifestyle and relationships have changed.
Happy balancing!
