There is no perfect “one-size fits all” balance you should be striving for. The best life balance is different for each of us because we all have different priorities and different needs.
- Life Balance does not mean an equal balance.
- Trying to schedule an equal number of hours for each of our various work and personal activities is usually unrewarding and unrealistic.
- Life is and should be more fluid than that.
- Individual life balance will vary over time, the right balance for you today maybe different for you tomorrow. The right balance for you when you are single will be different when you marry, or if you have children; when you start a new career versus when you are nearing retirement.
Mental (mind)o This includes the amount of stimulation and variety of interests and challenges we face, also our capacity for coping. We need to take time out to expand our knowledge in the fast moving world in which we live, trying to solve problems with a fixed knowledge set is not going to help or support us.
Activities: Thinking & Brainstorming, Reading, Writing, Learning, Working, Investment,...etc.Physical (body)o This takes account of our current energy levels, eating and exercise habits, illnesses and relaxation time. Many of us know what we should do and need to learn to take better care of our bodies. But how many of us get enough good quality sleep, eat a healthy diet, know the consequences of what we eat or take sufficient exercise.
Activities: Eating, Drinking, Practicing Sports, Handy Activities, Sex,...etc.Emotional (heart)o This is the level of humour and enjoyment and sense of security and trust we have, also our sense of feeling valued and having a positive outlook on life. We need to consider our emotional reactions and develop approaches to managing them, this results in positive outcomes which build relationships.
Activities: Playing, Watching Movies, Listing to Music, Loving,...etc.Spiritual (soul)o This involves having an awareness of things that matter, a feeling of congruence about life and a sense of purpose and of “who I am”. This is our inner self, the essence of our individuality. For our life to have meaning and purpose we need to understand our own beliefs and values.
Activities: Praying, Fasting, Meditation, Helping other creatures...etc.