[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bringing balance into your life; well what does this mean? Does this mean a tricky yoga pose or one of those ladies from third world countries that carries an entire harvest and her baby on her head in a basket? Or what about those folks in India who balance themselves, their wife and their three children on the handlebars of their bicycle?
Well, the way some of you try to balance all of your responsibilities in your life you only wish that all you had to do was balance your entire immediate family on the handle bars of your bike. I know, you’re thinking, gee, I wish that was all that I had to balance or juggle in my life. That is easy compared to all that I have to do!
Bringing balance into your life is easier than it may seem. It is based on following the rhythms of nature.
For example, when it is dark out, it is time to rest. You should rest more in the winter months, when it is darker earlier and longer. What is Mother Nature telling you? Consider winter more of a time to hibernate. When the sun is out, you should be outside soaking in the vitamin D rich rays of the sun and breathing in fresh air.
Ok, so life in this society doesn’t allow for this? Bull cookies! You can create a productive balanced life by first making a choice to live in harmony. When you make this choice, you begin to have the most fabulous life. Making that choice will begin to put things in motion to lead you to finding your balance.
So, first is rest. It is important to start retiring for the day and begin to rest when it is dark out and these hours are longer in the winter months. We are supposed to hibernate in the winter. Are you having trouble sleeping? Let’s fix that first.
I believe that one of the first things to consider improving your sleep habits is to bring more positivity into your life. If you stay up late watching the late news, which is always bad news, then you may have trouble falling asleep or you wake up in the middle of the night struggling with fear and anxiety. Also, the TV screen or computer screen stimulate your brain and disrupt sound sleep cycles.
So, stop watching the news (or TV) right before you go to bed and when you first wake up in the morning. Instead, encourage more positive thinking by reading a book that you love or listen to your favorite music or meditation CD. Consider too, writing things you are thankful for in a gratitude journal each night maybe after taking a hot bath. These are simple ways to feel relaxed and more positive and they key to living a balanced life.
For more sleep suggestions, please see my extended article on sleep suggestions here.
Some people have a form of chronic fatigue that also, ironically, can disrupt healthy sleep cycles. This in turn contributes further to chronic fatigue. Deep fatigue happens when we zap our adrenal glands of energy and vitality. This may happen as a result of chronic stress or pushing yourself too hard and too long each day while hyped up on caffeine and not nourishing your adrenals properly. We can assist you with rebuilding your adrenal glands. If you need assistance, contact Janet at janet@sanaview.com.
Another key to living in balance is to be hydrated. How can you have a balanced mind and body if you are dehydrated? The cells of your body and brain require water so this is the first thing you want to feed your body when you wake up in the morning. I always suggest to my clients to start their day with a glass of filtered or spring water and then have a second glass with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Even better for good health is to use a bit of raw unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar in the water instead. The vinegar has beneficial bacteria that will help to improve your digestive system and your overall wellbeing. Eighty percent of your immune system is related to your digestive system and requires good bacteria for support. Also, research is now showing that balanced mood and emotions depend on adequate amounts of beneficial bacteria in your gut. Consider also taking a natural probiotic supplement to improve your gut flora. Try this Friendly Force supplement offered through SanaView.
Don’t skip breakfast but do skip the high sugar processed foods. As a matter of fact, how about skipping the sugar altogether? Simple sugars of all types will mess with your blood sugar and thus your immune system, your energy levels and your moods. Instead, include whole fruits to satisfy your sweet cravings. When you combine these with healthy nuts and seeds, the healthy fats and proteins balance your blood sugar and provide sustaining energy. Be sure to watch our video for all sorts of healthy ideas on what to have for breakfast!
While you’re in the process of skipping the sugar, how about choosing to eat real foods, as opposed to chemical filled and refined processed foods all day? This is a huge step forward for improving your life and health overall. Choose foods from the perimeter of the grocery store that have an ingredient list that is less than you can count on one hand. Learn to read labels by watching our video.
A balanced life means balanced moods and emotions. By bringing positivity into your day before bed, sleeping well, being hydrated and eating well, you will find that your moods and emotions are well balanced. It is far easier to handle the stresses of the day when your moods are balanced. Furthermore, practice paying attention to your thoughts throughout the day. You may catch yourself having thoughts that don’t feel good. Know that you are choosing those thoughts and practice switching your thoughts to ones that feels better. For example, instead of dreading going to work each day, be thankful you have a good job or even be glad of your well-running car that gets you to work each day. Choosing thoughts that feel better, no matter how simple a thought it may be, will dramatically improve your life and of course bring balance.
Get exercise! Again, the rhythms of nature require that the human body get vigorous movement each day. It is preferable to get exercise outdoors, in my opinion, when you can. Breathing fresh air and getting daylight in your eyes and on your face will help to set your melatonin and exerting yourself during the day will improve the quality of your sleep at night. Also, getting exercise in a form that you love helps to relieve stress and energize your mind and body. Try to include a variety of forms of exercise such as some cardio, weight bearing and gentle stretching, for overall fitness and good health.
Ok, the above includes lots of valuable information on the basics of living a balanced life from an overall health perspective. Well, what about balancing work, life and possibly parenting too? Oh wow, back to the point of balancing everything on the handlebars of your bike!
First, be gentle with yourself. You are human and can only do so much each day. Stop beating yourself up for wanting to do more or thinking you should be more ‘perfect’. Remember, pay attention to your thoughts and begin choosing thoughts that feel better like, “wow, I’m amazing and I juggle my responsibilities well!”
Don’t try to do it all. Decide what the priorities are and focus on those things that are on the top of the list first. Set goals for the high priority items and maybe develop a plan as to how you are going to handle them.
Be willing to get help! We cannot all do everything so ask for help from family, friends and neighbors and be willing to outsource where possible. For example, if you have a super busy project at work, hire someone to clean the house and do the laundry etc… Be willing to network with others to have a support group too, like maybe a mom’s group or join a social group at church or in your community.
Take time for yourself. This is very important. I know you are thinking that you have too much to do and you come last, well that doesn’t work. By taking a small amount of time for yourself each day will help you to feel so calm and clear and balanced that you sail through your busy day with more grace and ease. Take time to go for a walk outside or read a good book in bed before you go to sleep. You only need a few minutes each day and the benefits far outweigh the extra time.
Remember to have fun! What have you done lately that is fun and that caused you to laugh? If you can’t remember then something is wrong. Laughter is good medicine and it keeps you feeling young and energized. If you don’t know what to do, then watch a funny movie or listen to a comedian. Those that have young children or grandchildren or nieces and nephews have no excuse not to play. I will always remember how fun it was to be with my son when he was little because it got me to be a kid again. When was the last time you felt like a kid and being silly? Start having fun now.
Start by surrounding yourself with positive people. If all you do is hang out with negative people who watch too much news, then it’s time to make new friends. Being positive yourself and focusing on what is good in the world will bring more positive people into your life too. Like attracts like so start attracting fun people into your life that make you laugh and sing.
Schedule date night or girl’s night out or an evening by yourself at a healthy café or a local play. You must schedule this on your calendar or it won’t happen. This is all part of remembering to play and remembering to take time out of your busy schedule to treat yourself and your significant others. Having a balanced relationship with others and ourselves is all part of living a balanced life.
Focus on your strengths and accomplishments instead of mistakes and failures. We all have both so focus on your more positive traits. Stop obsessing on things you are worried about or regret. Let it all go and start living your best life. Life is too short to wallow in negativity. Positive self-talk is something you can practice and you can strengthen that skill just as you would practice playing tennis. Positivity is waiting for you to greet it and grasp it from this day on. Start toning that muscle now.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]