Finding Balance

Do you remember the early days of the pandemic? I remember them. I felt like I was in a reality survival show and someone else had signed me up! Our family was trapped in the house together, for an unknown period of time, and we would need to figure out how to make it work. I promptly purchased an assortment of sweet treats for the whole family — something that was previously reserved for special occasions. These were war-time measures, I justified to myself. I still remember the kids’ expressions — it was as if they had won the lottery!

In hindsight, this dietary adjustment served its purpose but came with a cost. By summer I was definitely feeling the effects of the sugar-cravings. Something needed to change. I cleaned out the pantry, purchased an assortment of fruits and vegetables, and figured out other creative — and healthier — ways to cope with the pandemic lifestyle. Sorry kids, a new (or in this case old) sheriff was in town.

Finding balance in our lives is a challenge, even under the best of circumstances.

How do we tend to our children, our significant relationships, our careers, our physical health, our spiritual and mental well-being and our financial situations with the care and attention they warrant?

One piece of wisdom I've gathered is that balance is dynamic, not static. No matter how hard we try, we can never uphold all of our values perfectly - life is too complex! For me, balance is more about recognizing what values need attention, being able to adjust fluidly, and having compassion for the failures. In times of growth, for example, it is natural for self-care to suffer. New parents or business owners can attest to sacrificing their own self-care in favor of nurturing someone or somthing else. It is discompassionate and unrealistic to think that we should have the same level of productivity or emotional resilience, regardless of our life circumstance. Should we be as productive at the beginning of a pandemic as we were before? Should we maintain the same standard of flexibility or reliability when caring for a new baby? Ironically, being honest about what we value and having compassion for our human limitations seems to mitigate burn-out and help with productivity and resilience long term. Asking thought-provoking questions can help us recognize what needs attention in the short and long-term. .

• Which aspects of my life would be best prioritized now?

• Which values are not getting enough care or attention?

• What will happen I continue to not give them attention?

• What support systems can I rely on?

The key is to be curious, be flexible, and be compassionate!