It’s the old adage isn’t it? Healthy Mind. Healthy Body. Seems simple. But so many of us struggle with the perennial challenge of how to get this balance right?
The older (and wiser!) we get, the harder it can be to get it all inline, and the tougher the consequences when we drop our fitness routine, take on extra work, and grab whatever comes to hand food wise.
The longer I am faced with the struggle of balancing an active Home and Work life, the more reliant I am becoming on a few key principles. Granted I am lucky enough to work for myself, thereby setting the hours that I work, clients I take on. But nonetheless, there are some clear trends that emerge from my own life, and from those of my clients with whom I engage on this all too pervasive topic.
And it all starts with Planning. This for me is critical. Taking time at the start or end of every week, to pencil in what the times are that I will work, when I will work out, what I will eat, when I will meet friends and family, when I will 
rest, etc. Recognising the existence of these multiple aspects of myself, allows me to plan to fulfil the individual needs that necessarily arise in all facets of my life, and to make some attempt on a weekly basis to achieve a sense of balance.
– Work
o Being challenged – in a positive way! I like to ensure that the work that I select to do will give me a sense of achievement and fulfilment. Knowing that I have helped a client achieve real change through coaching, or seeing an organisation’s metrics soar, reinforce the fact that I do a good job, and encourage me to keep learning and taking on more and more challenging work.
o Learning – keeping abreast of new developments in the literature, engaging in CPD events, networking with peers, and getting feedback from clients, allows me to move forward in my career in an honest and progressive manner.
o Reflecting – over the years I’ve learned the value in keeping a journal where I reflect on the work that I’ve done, clients that I’ve engaged with, feedback that I’ve gotten and jot down thoughts for future development. It’s amazing when you take the time to free write, it helps to offload the worries and concerns you may have had, and allows you to channel the effort into a more productive and positive output.
– Life
o Diarising time for fitness has really helped me keep my energy levels up. My work is very focused and requires me to be very present, and I love the energy that I get from the exertion of exercise. Plus it really is a great stress buster! But it only happens if I treat it like a client meeting and put the slot in my diary.
o Meditation – I love the Headspace app! I try to meditate 20 minutes per day, and this really does allow me to clear my head and achieve that presence I mentioned which is so important in the work that I do. It also allows me to keep more calm in the face of (child) tantrums, and to try to maintain a sense of balance on an ongoing basis.
o Nutrition. I truly believe in the wisdom of nurturing our bodies with real food, and I will often prepare batches of food at the weekend to take me through the busy work days ahead. There is nothing less appetising than a limp sandwich, nor so nutritionally deficient. I really rely on www.deliciouslyella.com www.susanjanewhite.com and www.thelittlegreenspoon as their recipes work, and I am confident in the energy I will get from eating in this way
o Socialising – be it with clients or friends, I really believe in the importance of taking a break from my work. I regularly plan dinners out, theatre 
visits and occasional nights away to really re-charge and re-focus – to the benefit of everyone on my return!
o Solitude – taking time for me. This is a relatively new practice for me, but one that I strive to incorporate and encourage my clients to do too. I like to write, practice yoga and often take a walk in nature. This is something I neglected to do in the past, and I see it all too often with my clients. We can all become so caught up in the day to day of our super busy lives, rarely taking the time to really dis-engage and be calm. For me these are the perfect activities to actively reclaim that headspace.
So, how do you make it work? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
At the BPS Occupational Conference in Nottingham in January, Steve Peters gave an excellent talk associated with the ‘Chimp’ within us. I would recommend his book the ‘Chimp Paradox’ to provide you with a good insight into the ‘inner you’.
On a lighter side, trying to keep composed with a (child throwing tantrums) would try the patience of a saint! Best just to count to 10 sometimes.
Great Dominc – I’ll definitely check out that book.
Counting to 10 – and even 20! – is a MUST!!!
Hope you are well – lovely to hear from you!