We all want it.
The magical ability to maintain a healthy life balance. To have ‘it’ all.
As an Executive Coach to corporate businesses I work with clients everyday in the corporate world, juggling life, family and work. We live in a world where people can access us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and alongside juggling life also need to remind people how fantastic we are at balancing by documenting it on social media.
If you think about it - it’s crazy! We are at the mercy of life and really we just need to slow down and take a long hard look at ourselves. We need to ask the question - What do I want?
So I ask you - if you didn’t have to consider anyone else, what would YOU want? It’s worth asking yourself the question because no one else is going to and if you aren’t living for yourself then effectively you are living to build someone else’s life instead.
So, if you are relating to this then read on because I am going to give you a few tips to get you three steps closer to achieving that life balance we are all searching for:
1) Build time into your schedule
I live by my diary. I schedule everything from the time I get up to when I go sleep. If you have the ‘bedtime’ function on your iPhone you’ll know what I am talking about. If it isn’t in my diary it isn’t going to happen. So I also schedule FREE time. Time to shut down the computer, remove myself from email, put the phone into a different room and read a book. I schedule a day each month to go hiking and remove myself from the hustle and bustle of life in the city. If you want to balance your life you need to schedule in everything so you know that you are balanced. The errands and the free time equals balance. Give it a go and watch how you start making time for You.
2) Rethink your errands
It’s about working smarter not harder and to take advantage of the ease of technology. Getting your food shopping delivered is one of the luxuries of life. It can stop you impulse buying and saves the trip to and from the supermarket. Put your bills on direct debit close to your pay day so everything comes out automatically at the same time and you can just check finances once a month to make sure they are all correct. Use a dry cleaning company which picks up and drops off your clothes. Use internet banking. Subscribe to Amazon Prime and start using your ‘Siri’ or ‘Alexa’. These little changes may seem small but are there to help you and will make such a difference to your life balance and give you back that control. A few minutes saved here and there can tally up to save you hours.
3) Be Realistic
Helping people find a healthy work / life balance is what I do for a living and I practice what I preach. I do a lot in life working as a consultant, employee, entrepreneur as well as socialise, bake most weekends, exercise 4 times a week and am a keen hiker. So I know when I need to be realistic with my time. I know when I have to say ‘no’ and I never over promise. This is what I work with my clients to manage. One example being when one of my clients decided to start a 3 times a week gym programme and not factor in that the extra exercise will make them tired. If you are planning to do more in your spare time then you also need to schedule in time to rest. Otherwise you will not be able to maintain such a drastic change. Another thing is not to be a martyr - you will only begrudge others when you no longer have time for yourself.
So make time to listen to music. Do not over promise. Enjoy life and slow down.
This is such a huge talking point in today’s society that I have teamed up with Neil Jordan A.K.A Positive Neil to hold a One Day Urban Retreat on Saturday 3rd June in the heart of London, UK.
This retreat will work on achieving that life balance we are all seeking through a day of interactive workshops, working with like minded people in an excellent venue where all food and drink is provided throughout the day.
Neil will share his mediation techniques that he has honed over the years and discuss ‘thought management’ - a chance to really understand your thoughts and why we have so many each day - what do they all mean?
I will work with you to identify the limiting beliefs in your life. The reasons that may be holding you back from achieving that life balance you are seeking and put you on track with a tailored strategy plan that you can implement immediately.
This day will give you the chance to retreat from life’s hustle and bustle.
To join us Click Here and book a ticket to the one day urban retreat taking place on Saturday 3rd June in the City of London.