Nourish
3 Simple Steps To Put You On The Path Toward Balance
Is balanced living really possible?
If we stick to the traditional—and limited—definition of of balance, probably not. After all, how can anyone do meaningful work, practice great self-care, engage with loved ones, and have leisure time, all without feeling like one is outweighing the others?
I accepted the traditional definition for a long time—and I was therefore a skeptic when it came to balanced living. But then it occurred to me that there could be more than one way to live a balanced life. For me, it was a matter of changing my definition of balance. Instead of understanding it to mean giving equal time and attention to each area of our lives, I have come to see balance as intentionally focusing on the things I value most in life.
In so many ways, this approach was a huge relief. Whereas the “old-school” definition of balance left me feeling guilty anytime I couldn’t allot equal time to everything I was supposed to be doing, my new definition let me choose—and enjoy—how I spent my time.
I developed a super-simple three-step exercise that has helped me be intentional about finding my version of a balanced life. I invite you to try it!
- Make a list of the top five things you’d like to spend your time and energy on in an ideal life. Some people call these things priorities, some think of them as values. However you prefer to think of them, just be sure you identify them clearly.
- Once you have your list, take an honest look at how you spend your time each day. Does your lifestyle align with your priorities? It might help to write down how you currently spend your time, even jotting down how long you spend on each item.
- If your current lifestyle doesn’t align with your priorities, use your list from step one as a guide and make changes to how you spend your time and energy so you can give more of them to the things that matter most.
It’s amazing how these three simple steps can lead to a major shift in your lifestyle. I’m not saying your life will be perfect, but it will start to feel more balanced—even on the days when you’re really, really busy. Because when you’re busy doing things that matter to you – living an intentional life – you’re defining balance for yourself. Learn more at ashleymgartland.com.
What do you prioritize in your life to make it feel balanced? We’d love for you to share with us in the comments below!
Is balanced living really possible?
If we stick to the traditional—and limited—definition of of balance, probably not. After all, how can anyone do meaningful work, practice great self-care, engage with loved ones, and have leisure time, all without feeling like one is outweighing the others?
I accepted the traditional definition for a long time—and I was therefore a skeptic when it came to balanced living. But then it occurred to me that there could be more than one way to live a balanced life. For me, it was a matter of changing my definition of balance. Instead of understanding it to mean giving equal time and attention to each area of our lives, I have come to see balance as intentionally focusing on the things I value most in life.
In so many ways, this approach was a huge relief. Whereas the “old-school” definition of balance left me feeling guilty anytime I couldn’t allot equal time to everything I was supposed to be doing, my new definition let me choose—and enjoy—how I spent my time.
I developed a super-simple three-step exercise that has helped me be intentional about finding my version of a balanced life. I invite you to try it!
- Make a list of the top five things you’d like to spend your time and energy on in an ideal life. Some people call these things priorities, some think of them as values. However you prefer to think of them, just be sure you identify them clearly.
- Once you have your list, take an honest look at how you spend your time each day. Does your lifestyle align with your priorities? It might help to write down how you currently spend your time, even jotting down how long you spend on each item.
- If your current lifestyle doesn’t align with your priorities, use your list from step one as a guide and make changes to how you spend your time and energy so you can give more of them to the things that matter most.
It’s amazing how these three simple steps can lead to a major shift in your lifestyle. I’m not saying your life will be perfect, but it will start to feel more balanced—even on the days when you’re really, really busy. Because when you’re busy doing things that matter to you – living an intentional life – you’re defining balance for yourself. Learn more at ashleymgartland.com.
What do you prioritize in your life to make it feel balanced? We’d love for you to share with us in the comments below!
