Every day comes with its own stressors. Work, education, commute, errands, family commitments, social commitments, keeping up with social media–every single thing has to be accommodated into brief snatches of time. Bringing balance back into your life at times like this can seem an uphill task, but these three things can make the self-work easier.
Look after yourself, and others.
There is a deep connection between the idea of self-care and the Scouts motto "Be prepared".
In other words, the best of your giving nature comes forth when you balance it with mindful self-care.
Think of it this way: If you don't take care of yourself, how can you be prepared for anything?
By taking care of your body, you prepare yourself for when you are needed to help around the house, spend active time with friends and family, or tend to a loved one (or a perfect stranger).
By taking care of your mind, you are unruffled and gracious around petty squabbles, stressful moments, and tense situations. You can lend a shoulder to cry on, offer gentle words of support, and calm the anxieties of the other.
By taking care of your spirit and wisdom, you can be a rock of strength for others and a reliable guide for those who look up to you.
Think of the many ways you can balance self-care with compassion towards others, and practice at least one act of self-care and one act of compassion every day. Both come easily when both come together.
Step out.
"The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending we lay waste our powers;"
Wordsworth summed it up pretty accurately when he wrote this about humanity's obsession with materialism during the industrial revolution. Even today, we get so absorbed by the rat race and trappings of worldliness that we are flustered and overwrought all the time. This means we have less energy levels to look outwards and we minimise our gaze towards just ourselves. We are too absorbed in our own pain, and our emotions overwhelm us.
The solution is to step out. Step out into nature to calm those nerves and absorb the limitlessness of the world around us. Step out of our comfort zones and step out of the limitations that we have placed upon ourselves. Discover new and fresh possibilities that are outside the mundane routines of a materialistic existence. Sniff a flower, sing in the shower, bake a batch of cookies, and yes, definitely make a hand-drawn birthday card just like you used to do as a kid.
Then you'll see that the world does not have to be so much with you, and you needn't be fraught with worries. You hold the keys to your personal freedom.
Take it one day at a time.
It used to happen to me. I’d do a full day's work and then continue to finish the next day’s deliverables too, because I was constantly afraid that something would come up tomorrow to stop me from taking on my to-do list. Of course, a couple of burnouts later, I came to realise that this over-industriousness was an expression of my anxiety for the future, and it was wearing me out.
The saying "Live one day at a time" and its counterpart "carpe diem" or "seize the day" are meant to address the problem of filling too much or too little into the day.
When you do just as much as you need to for the day, you won't be overwhelmed with the things you have to do through the week, month, or year. Similarly, you don't have to struggle to find the answers to big life questions now; after all, only a day’s worth of wisdom will come from your seeking. Instead, spend the day also savouring the transient joys of the moment – sunshine and rain, warm breezes, sunsets, the cold nip in the evening air. It will balance out a lopsided life and better still, it will help you grow into the person who can solve a problem, find an answer or accomplish more, tomorrow.
What are your favourite practices to achieve a more balanced life? Share them with me on Instagram @XYZ and you might get featured.