Finding Your Balance

Sometimes when we leave things floating around our brain and don't get it out of our head, it can feel more overwhelming than when we just simply write a list. 

Take some time to sit down and list out all of the regular activities/tasks that pop up in your life. However you do it is up to you - list on your phone, write it down in your new journal, create a spreadsheet (our personal fave!), just make sure you get really specific on what each thing is and how often it occurs - weekly, fortnightly, monthly.

Give each item a different colour or emoji so you can easily identify between them all in the next step - plus doing so makes the process more fun! 

Make sure you also include a "Me time" item - we'll explain more on this soon!

See our example below 👇

Now it's time to work out exactly how much time each of these activities/tasks take up and schedule in when you're likely to do them. 

You could draw up a weekly calendar grid on paper, use your phone calendar or physical diary to write in each item or draw up a spreadsheet (used for our example). If you're creating your own grid, mark out each day of the week and the general hours you're awake/active for each day. 

If your schedule changes on say a fortnightly basis, you'll need either two grids (one for each week), or you can half fill a square to show the fortnightly change for that task. 

Once you've decided how you want to create your schedule, mark in your items from your list using your emoji's or colours to identify between them all. Be specific! Think about things like driving time, when you might stop for lunch, any interruptions that could mean that task takes slightly longer. 

For now, just focus on everything except the "me time", we'll schedule this in next!

Here's an example:

"Me time" looks different for everyone but it's essentially time for you to switch off, rest and recharge. Maybe you're a parent who would just love one uninterrupted, long, hot shower per week. Maybe you're stuck inside all day but yearn for a walk in nature, or you're someone that just needs a minute to snuggle up on the couch and watch your comfort show. Whatever it is that makes your heart happy and mind calm - that's what needs to go into your schedule.

Another way of looking at "Me time" is by calling it Non Negotiable Time. Once it's in your calendar, it's locked in. No rescheduling for other tasks or other people, this is your time to do what you like. Never feel guilty for needing time to recharge, we all do 🩷

So now that you have your schedule in front of you, add in your me time / non negotiable time. And remember this is your schedule - this could be something you do/need daily, weekly, fortnightly or even monthly. Just make sure it's in the schedule so it doesn't get missed.  

Once you've got everything laid out, share your schedule with those that need it - partner, family, manager, trainer etc. 

Make a point of explaining your non-negotiable time. This is your time, so no they cannot book something in during that time of the day/week/month! 

Having someone else know your schedule can also just be a really great way to help keep you accountable. Especially when it comes to things that can be easily ignored but are super important: exercise, eating well, resting. 

Make sure your schedule is also somewhere where you can view it easily too so that when life feels hectic you can come back to it and remember that you do have time for everything, you just need to follow that routine 🩷

Doing this activity is a great way to really assess how you spend your time. 

• If you're looking at your schedule and you can see lots of blank space/free time then that can either be a nice reminder when you're feeling overwhelmed that you have plenty of time, or it can be a great motivator to start that project you've been wanting to do because you do actually have the time for it. 
• If you're looking at your schedule and most of your time slots are full, take a moment to ask yourself: Am I happy with this balance of activities? If your answer is yes, great! If your answer is no, then maybe it's time to evaluate and see where you can make changes. Talking things through with a loved one can be a great place to start as sometimes all you need is a pair of fresh eyes to help find the solution 🩷

The key in all of this is to find a balance that works for you. Our journey's are never linear, life will throw curveballs, you'll experience new opportunities and things will change but if you take time to check in with yourself and reset then regardless of what comes along, you'll know you can handle it  🥰

Written by a person, not a robot x