Balance

Balance is one of the most critical elements in achieving a happy, successful life. If you are overworked and stressed, your bank account may be healthy, but your body and mind will not be. Conversely, if you are totally relaxed all day, every day, unless you live off of a trust fund, you will soon be relaxing under a bridge.

I used to work in in Tysons Corner, Virginia, one of the most affluent areas in the country. And in my estimation, the people I passed by on a daily basis are the least happy, most unsmiling people you will ever see. The environment is a rat race, with everyone trying to out-do the next person, to drive the most expensive cars, to impress with the most expensive clothes and jewelry, and to marry the richest, most beautiful person you can.

Why is this so? Because at some point in their lives, these people determined that monetary wealth = happiness. And I am here to tell you, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

It’s usually easy to determine when you are “out of balance”. No matter how hard you try, there are going to be times when work gets overly demanding, you can’t get to the gym as often, you can’t sleep because too much is in your head. It could be something as simple as feeling “off”, or as obvious as having little things set you off, or you are tired all the time.

Here are some rules of thumb to live by:

•            Body Balance: Realize that you don’t have to get to a gym in order to exercise. Even if you are in a set workout routine, come up with a maintenance work out for each body part that you can do at home. Make it rigorous, and high intensity for at least 30 minutes.

•            Break away: Take frequent breaks at work, to refresh your mind and body. Walk away from your desk, take a walk outside, get away for at least a few minutes every hour. And unless you are waiting for an absolutely crucial phone call, do not check your phone!

•            Mind balance: Learn meditation. It can be something as simple as closing your eyes, and clearing your mind for 5 minutes in a quiet place.

•            Rest Balance: Sleep will be addressed in a later article, but if you are exhausted during the day, try to take power naps. Find a safe, quiet spot, recline your car seat, and shut down (just be sure to set your alarm!)

If this sounds simplistic, that’s because it is.  We are just scratching the surface here.  But as the saying goes, ever journey begins with the first step.  We’re just getting started!