At the beginning of fall 2007, I wrote about the development of small goals for my health behavior course. Included in my project were goals on creating balance in life, which for me equated to creating time for physical, spiritual, emotional/mental, and social health. The project went successfully, and I noticed how easily I could bog down certain categories. However at the conclusion of the project, I'd made it through the term feeling balanced and at ease. Life seemed simple, but I also had less demanding my time.
As much as I'd prefer not to document and categorize my every choice on paper, I'm beginning to think it might be a good idea to reinstate my little project over the next several months. If there's one thing I'm missing, it's the SLOWNESS of simplicity. With the beginning of the practicum, the summer classes, and the move, life has been anything but balanced. Just the opposite is the normal feeling in fact, as I frequently feel that there is "just one more thing to do" before I can wrap it all up. However at the completion of that one more thing, I realize that tomorrow there is still more to complete.
Part of regaining simplicity needs to come from becoming slightly more organized and through the development of additional small stepped goals. I need to take the time necessary to decide where to focus my energies and how to best schedule myself as I transition into this dual program role. I also need to re-evaluate my needs within the larger picture and feel comfortable with saying no. Being personally micro-managed is something I have avoided for a long time, but I also need to accept that in this phase of my life I might have to let go of some of the freedom and spontaneity I have been able to enjoy in years past. Simplicity has come to represent a looser existence to me, so it's a hard transition to maintain the feeling of being simple, when my days are mostly planned out before I even awaken.
As ironic as it may seem, I have the feeling that reinstating the old project might just do the trick. If I limit myself to fewer choices (such as 1-2 social occasions each week), then I just might end up having greater freedom within those choices. I'll also have to prioritize what is most important, while continuing to put personal balance at the core of my decisions. Something that will in fact simplify and keep me mindful of my existence.
I want my balance back, balance back, balance back......:-)
What do you do to regain balance in your life?
5 comments:
Your post struck a chord with me. As I try to live simply and more sustainably I find myself getting busier and busier. So many of the activities of simple living, growing food, cooking from scratch, making rather than buying take much more time than the "less simple" alternatives.
I think the answer as you say is in prioritising. An idea I have been trying is to only ever have three things on a to do list at any one time. Then after all the fixed things that have do be fitted in are done, I must only pick three other activites - certainly makes me think about what is the most important.
It's a tough thing, this balance. The problem with simplicity is that its not simple, lol, there's so very much to do in the way I chose to live simply. Its hard too sometimes to cut out what we want or think is important. I had to cut out a bunch of community work, it was hard, but in the end it has been worth it...
If you ever figure out balance completely, do clue me in please.
yoga woman...yoga...
It feels as though I'm definitely not the only one who thinks that simplicity is something we have to strive to maintain.
I appreciate all your insights!
Hope you have a good simple and delightful weekend!
I too find that "simple" is not the same as "easy." My main downfall is also scheduling too many things in the evenings after work. Some of these things are very enjoyable and good for me, like tai chi class and having a massage now and then, but I mostly I just would like to go home after work and do home-based things. And I really do need to start meditating more often - that helps get me slow down and just breathe and be.
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