Achieving balance
Why you need balance in your business life.
There has been and always will be a debate about how to achieve balance in your business and life. Does it ever truly happen? The scales may feel balanced for a moment when you feel like you have climbed the mountain and then suddenly you are plummeting into the abyss again, failing miserably. Some believe that it is a daily battle to ensure that you are achieving balance in your life. But take it from someone that knows, it doesn’t have to be.
Not too long ago I was the one struggling to maintain some sense of balance in my life. Work always came first and I certainly did not have my priorities straight. I got to a point where I thought it was great to get to work at six am and not be home until late in the evening. I was proud of my work ethic and made that part of my identity as a leader. I did, however, have this little mantra coursing through my veins that I was working hard, so I could also play hard when I allowed myself the opportunity to do so. This however was not a recipe for success. There was no balance. The scale was either heavily weighted on the work hard side, or the play hard side.
“I was proud of my work ethic and made that part of my identity”
Flash forward through a couple of years of heavy bruising and I have come to realize that life doesn’t have to be work or play. Sometimes the greatest joy in your day may come from an accomplishment, a goal being met, or simply watching your team enjoying success. When we find more meaning both in life and in work it doesn’t become such an “either or” balancing act. Since we are spending an average of eight hours of our day at work, why must we view these as two separate entities? Navigating balance is all about perspective. The following rules I have set for myself have helped me move to a place where work and life are intertwined and as such, achieving that elusive balance is more readily accomplished.
Rule number one: Energize yourself first
A morning routine can become a ritual that will ensure you are entering into your day with a positive and productive mindset. Can you carve time for yourself to stretch, or to simply sit in the early morning silence? Of course you can. No phone zone. Find your space for doing this so that you are not tempted to check emails, look at news feeds, read Allnovascotia.com, etc. Our time can quickly be swallowed up by technology so make sure that doesn’t happen. When is the last time that your morning consisted of an early morning stretch, a nutritious smoothie, and spending some quiet time to reflect on what you hope the day will look like? It’s hard to energize others as a leader if you haven’t taken the necessary steps to energize yourself. Think about how much more you can give to others when you have given yourself this gift first. This is an important step towards the feeling of balance.
Rule Number Two: Plan your day. don’t let it plan you
Although this sounds simple, it really does take practice. The constant churn we often create for ourselves when we are running around chasing things that need to get done in the course of a day can be overwhelming. Take a moment before you go to sleep and write down what will make tomorrow that much more productive. What are the most important things that you need to accomplish? How much more productive are you going to be as a result? Don’t get caught up in making too many lists so that it becomes a laundry list of to do items. I state three things that are going to make me feel as though my day has been successful and I ensure that those three things get done above all else.
Rule Number Three: decide who matters
There are people in your life that will consume a great deal of your time and energy. Decide who you are saying no to when you are saying yes to someone else. Create boundaries for yourself and be mindful of individuals that consume more of your time than necessary. Ensure that you are giving your time to someone that truly appreciates your value and knowledge. When you are engaging with people that energize you, balance is naturally achieved because you are creating longer lasting meaningful “give and take” relationships. Another important point, don’t ever apologize for spending time with your loved ones. My three daughters grew up fast and earlier in my career I was not paying enough attention to just how fast that was happening. Today, my family knows that they matter. Let yourself relish in how balanced you feel when you are the one choosing who is taking up the space in front of you.
Rule Number Four: Perfection doesn’t exist
This can be a tough one to truly accept, especially if you are a Type A driven entrepreneur like me. Understand that it is ok to make mistakes and that we all learn the most from failure. If I think about the amount of times I grappled with having something be absolutely perfect, when it likely already was, I realize how much time was wasted. I think about how much of my thought process was wrapped up in an ideal that didn’t actually exist. When we can let go of the imperfections that only we can see, balance is a more achievable concept and you are given the gift of time.
Rule Number Five: Life by Design
It has taken me some time to get here but I do feel that I have created a life for myself that works for me and it is by design. I don’t apologize for being an adventurer and taking the time out of our chaotic world to unplug and enjoy the earth’s elements. Those that know me well can attest to the fact that I am an adrenaline junkie. I love the thrill of risk taking and pushing myself to the limits and while that may seem a bit crazy to some, even when I am in an office I am seeking opportunities for that thrill that comes from taking a risk and having it pay off. Pay attention to what fires you up, make it happen. Spend an afternoon in the office doing something that gets your heart rate up because you aren’t quite sure if it will pay off, or take off to enjoy what nature has to offer. The thrill seeking, both in and outside the office can fuel your fire and help you feel balanced and invigorated.
Take inventory of where you currently believe yourself to be with respects to feeling balanced and fulfilled. Hopefully these five rules will provide you with some criteria to start the process.