Does trying to maintain balance in your life make you feel like a tightrope walker? Well, know you’re not alone!  Most of us have so many constant demands on our time and energy life can feel like a three-ring circus.

Balance has become just one more thing we long for in our lives but believe we can only deserve and have once we’ve earned it, through overwork or overwhelm.

Whether it’s in work-life, caregiving vs. self-care, daily routines, creative pursuits or a host of other areas, creating balance across our life can feel more and more out of reach and elusive with every passing day. Many people feel life just isn’t delivering all it promised. They can feel let down, unhappy and in some cases, even bitter.

But you can find balance right now.

Once you make the decision that you’re worth it, you can commit to making the changes you need to help you find balance in both your beliefs and practices. By changing, even in small ways you can once again find joy and balance.

True or False?

Do you have that balance right? How far away from the happy point are you?

Take this quiz to see how well you are meeting your responsibilities while at the same time recognising and fulfilling your personal needs and wants.

How well do these statements match you? Are they true for you or false?

1. The only way I can successfully manage my life is to take care of myself physically and emotionally.

2. Nurturing myself increases my capacity to help others.

3. I eat healthfully.

4. I exercise regularly.

5. I get check-ups, go to the dentist, and take preventative precautions to prevent illness.

6. I regularly set aside personal, quiet time for myself, whether I’m meditating or simply letting my thoughts drift.

7. I experience the gifts of each season: walking in the rain, cosy fires, bundled-up beach walks; gardening, hiking, more time outside, smelling the roses; camping, swimming, barbeques, walking barefoot on the earth; harvesting the bounty, gathering wood, spending more time inside, walking in the mist.

8. Creativity nurtures me. I do what I love, whether that’s cooking, drawing, knitting, writing, dancing, building, singing or any other creative pursuit.

9. Cleaning out the old makes way for the new. I recognise when things and attitudes no longer serve me and regularly declutter the old and outdated in my life for a lightness and clarity.

10. Reaching out to others enriches my life. I spend quality time with family and friends.

11. Contributing to the world provides connection and purpose, so I give my time, energy and experience where it is most useful.

12. I notice and heed the emotional signals that tell me I’m out of balance: irritability, overwhelm, resentment.

13. If I feel that I’m catching a cold, I realise I may have stressed my immune system with overdoing things, so I stop and take care of myself.

14. When I need or want to, I say “No” to requests for my time.

15. I acknowledge my successes, no matter how small. I give myself permission to feel proud of all my achievements.

16. I listen to and honour the requests my body makes for such things as a nap, a walk, green vegetables, hot soup, time out.

17. I practise gratitude to build inner strength and resilience to help me bounce back from stress. I remind myself every day of just how fortunate I am and of all the bounty and wonderful people in my life.

18. If I have something planned for myself, I don’t just toss that aside when someone makes a request of me.

19. I’m busy, but I find time to do the things I want to do.

20. I’m happy. I regularly experience well-being, contentment, even joy.

How Did You Score?

If you answered false to more than ten questions, that is more than you answered true, you need to make changes in your life to support you and prevent burn-out.

After all, burn-out often leads to serious health problems ranging from aches and pains, through adrenal fatigue to depression plus many, many more.

Even the smallest child knows the frustration of having no time for activities that make you feel alive, that fire your joy and passion and that nurture you, so you feel needed and special. Don’t wait until sickness strikes to change your life practices for the better.

Next Steps

Take a close look at all the questions to which you answered false. Is there a pattern?

Is it just one area of your life that’s having an impact on your wellbeing and sense of balance?  Or is it spread right across all areas of your life?

Do you have strong boundaries?

What is the message you take away from this exercise? 

Consider or meditate on how you can introduce changes into your life.  What practices would help you incorporate the message into your life?

Don’t try and change everything at once. That’s a fast-track to overwhelm. Start small with one thing and once you’re getting comfortable with that add another change. Build on your achievements. And please, don’t hesitate to contact a professional if you feel you need to explore this issue further.

So go ahead…consider yourself!