Saturday, April 20, 2013

6 Guidelines for Having Balance in your Life

By Hal Neff


Everybody goes through a period of time where life feels unmanageable and imbalanced. It is perfectly normal! But how will youhow do you achieve a balance in these stressful times?

Understanding what balance really means is the first step toward creating a balanced lifestyle. Life harmony doesn't necessarily mean giving equal amounts of time or attention to each and every aspect of your daily life. That's the huge myth!

Life balance is about knowing when to give a little more effort, when it is time to call it quits, and when everything seems just right.

These 6 suggestions will help you reach a better balance in life:

1 . Make time for you. Understand that you are important and valuable. Caring for your happiness (and sanity) is definitely an essential part of making a balanced life. Even if for just two hours each week, put everyone else's needs aside and concentrate on you!

* Take a candlelit bubble bath while having a glass of wine and catching up on your favorite Hollywood news. Or, maybe just take your dog to the park on a bright afternoon. Do whatever helps you relax and enter a mindset of complete rest.

2 . Strive for a healthy lifestyle. Both exercise and a conscious diet are essential in order to stay healthy and happy. Set aside 30-minutes every week to exercise. Your workout can be anything under the sun, as long as it keeps you active.

* When eating healthy is a challenge, prevent bringing unhealthy food into your home. You cannot be tempted if it isn't around the house. Not only will it keep your heart healthy and your waistline in check, it'll promote healthy eating habits in your children.

3. Leave work at the office. There is a reason you have a work schedule: your employer is only willing to pay you for a certain period of time each day. Do your family a favor and keep work at work. Prevent overworking yourself if there is not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

* If you find that there aren't sufficient hours in the workday to maintain your responsibilities, find a way to enhance your efficiency while at the office. When this proves to be fruitless, explain your situation to your boss. He might be ready to pay you for an extra hour every day or minimize your workload.

4. Create time for love. Rekindle the romance by doing thoughtful actions. Bring home a candle in her favorite scent, send roses to the office, or perhaps hire a house keeper so your wife may spend more time doing the things she loves. Invest quality, uninterrupted time with your spouse.

* Simply watching TV together is not enough. Send the kids over to grandma's house for a weekend and plan a romantic getaway. If you are on a budget, plan a romantic camping trip. Nothing says romance like 2-days in the wild.

5. Live within your means. If your financial situation are causing you stress, it's time to reassess your budget. Create budget cuts in order to proactively work towards achieving your financial goals.

* Get rid of obvious splurges, such as cable tv upgrades and pricey cell phone plans. Cut down on your power bill by turning down the thermostat and doing laundry less regularly or in non-peak hours.

* As a last option, you may need to sell your home or downgrade to a less expensive rental. Sure, it's good to have granite kitchen countertops and sprawling acreage, but can you go without? You absolutely can. Live inside your means and feel the relief it brings!

6. Socialize. Spending time with friends enables you to relax and have a few laughs. Try to get together with friends at least once every month. Go out to dinner or hold a get together in your home.

* If your spouse is jealous, double dating is a great opportunity to involve him in your social life.

Leading an unbalanced way of life is one of the top triggers of stress for professionals. Inability to handle stress can cause numerous health issues, such as weight gain, migraines and even cardiovascular complications. The good thing is, you can be the exception. You may prevent health issues by nipping stress in the bud.

You are now strengthened, equipped, and all set to create balance in your life! Follow these strategies every day and, one day soon, you'll feel the harmony of a balanced lifestyle.




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