So many of us are over-extended with both work and "life" schedules, we struggle to balance it all. We are often sleep deprived and so, fatigue, has become our natural state of mind. It is our new reality, and yet we continue to battle every day to catch up as if we think we actually can. But we cannot. And when we realize that there are not enough hours in a day to accomplish all that we had hoped, we just let it spill into the next day, and on and on it goes. Yes indeed, we can lose our sense of self in this unravelling vicious cycle.
Present, guilty as charged. I write so often about time-management and how powerful it can be in order to reach our goals and maintain balance, but I neglected to include how important it is to carve out some self time.
I have always been an advocate of exercise, but lately it's been an activity that I dread, and more like something I have to do, not want to do. In the past, I would squeeze a quick work-out in just to feel like I accomplished something. Typically, I jump on the treadmill and trot along as random thoughts invade my head, but never really focus on anything in particular except how much longer I need to stay on it. A prime example of not being present or embracing the moment, but just worthy enough to cross it off my checklist. Just barely. Rushing to get my day going, I jump off that treadmill to just start running on essentially a different kind of treadmill; my work schedule. Truth be told, I have been kidding myself. I have never reaped the optimal benefit from the time I've set aside to find the balance. The experience was lacking purpose.
Recently, I decided to take up Pilates and I must admit, it has been life-altering. For me, that one invaluable hour of a day provides me with not only the physical balance I need, but the mental focus I require. Stepping away from my daily fast pace and taking time out just to breathe, is rejuvenating. Throughout this new workout, my core is fully engaged and strengthened, and when it's over, my mind is equally engaged to face the day with an incredible energy to succeed. It's my new life-balance.
Don't be too busy to live a healthy life. Prioritize. It's time to stop chasing your tail. Working until burnout is not at all productive.
At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what exercise you prefer, albeit the gym, yoga, or a run. What is imperative is that you do something to exercise physically and allow the mental juices to flow. It's cathartic. Exercise diffuses the stress. The more you do, the more you"ll want to do, and the better you will feel. My trainer always likes to say before a final stretch, "give yourself a hug," and I do. And it feels great.
Does your life often feel like a balancing act? What do you do to feel balanced?
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