Keeping Balance: 5 Smart Ways for the Busy Pros

Rebecca Lewis September 11, 2014

We all come to a point wherein life gets so busy that we almost forget to take care of ourselves. However, if you don’t do something about it, all aspects of your life will suffer. You will find yourself constantly stressed, less aware of the present moment, lacking focus, and caught up in worries – all these make your life miserable and less satisfying.

It may seem hard to take a time off when everything else is demanding your attention. But you can start to stay balanced by taking the baby steps. And they include the following:

Ditch multitasking.

If you think multitasking is one way to get more things done quickly and efficiently, you’re wrong. Actually, this strategy can sabotage your schedule and performance. That’s because when you multitask, you shift your attention from one thing to another, and your brain struggles to re-acquaint itself on what you were previously doing. So you lack focus and your output is affected. Instead of multitasking, consider doing one task at a time. Devote your attention and divide it into smaller tasks if necessary. By ditching multitasking, you are making a time-efficient approach to completing your tasks without getting burned out.

Make time for rest.

Many people feel guilty of resting. Well, you shouldn’t. You have to realise that you only have one body that’s working 24 hours a day non-stop to do what you got to do. You also deserve to rest. You probably want to do it but you are haunted by the unfinished tasks you need to work on. If you can’t afford an hour of siesta, go for a 30-minute power nap. Sleeping for just this short in the middle of the day can significantly improve your performance and spike your energy levels all throughout the afternoon. Stuck in some office work? Here’s one way to relax – just rest your back on your chair and make yourself feel comfortable by releasing those body tensions. And for several minutes, empty your mind. Forget about the worries, the tasks needed to get done, etc. Just focus on the ‘now’. Breathe in and out deeply, slowly. Yes, it is meditation made simpler.

Join get-togethers.

Just received an invitation to attend a dinner party? Say yes and take advantage of the opportunity and push the demands of life to the side. If you’re a workaholic, you may think that get-togethers are simply a waste of time. But science has proven time and again that socialising with others can have great positive effects on your physical and mental health. In case you didn’t know, more interaction with friends is among the top 5 regrets of the dying. Take part of social gatherings when you can, especially if they’re with your friends and family. Better yet, do the planning. Invite your friends to come over to your home for dinner, or watch a movie with the whole family. But make sure that when you spend time with them, you set aside your work and other things that keep you away from the enjoying the moment.

Explore your passion.

What makes you feel like you? Is it writing poems? Knitting? Gardening? Sketching? Baking? Experimenting on new recipes? Explore your creative outlets – those that are unrelated to your job. Dedicate time on things that make you happy and forget about your worries.

It’s okay to say “no”.

You need not accept every project that is offered to you, especially if you know you won’t be able to perform at your best. Many people just feel the need to never turn a project down, or a social engagement, a favour, etc. But this can backfire because you won’t have time to complete everything, so you end up feeling more stressed, less productive and inefficient. Don’t give excuses when you say no. Be honest. Tell them you can’t handle it because you are currently engaged in some other tasks.

Keeping balance is all it takes to live a happier and less stressful life. By avoiding doing multiple tasks all the same time, making time for rest and recreation, spending quality time with friends and family, pursuing your passion, and limiting yourself to tasks that you find manageable, you can start restoring the balance in your life.