Balance – What Does That Mean?

Hello and welcome to episode number 28 of the Strategy Corner where our goal is to get you to take action. I’m your host, Michelle Zink, the owner of Intentional Solutions Corp. On today’s episode, we’re talking about balance. What does that really mean? The definition of balance is an even distribution of weight, enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. Balance has been a big topic to discuss among professionals and business owners because we are taught that balance is the key, but what does that really mean? To me, balance is when you are focusing and doing things in the areas that are most important to you and to you is key. We can listen to podcasts, read articles of where successful people put their time, but the real question is what is most important to you? What areas of your life, when you are in them that bring you the most joy, add to your ability to bring the wanted change you seek.

Those are the things we should be thinking about. A day fully balanced for me is when I am number one, taking time for myself in the morning and right before bed to read and/or journal. Since I last taped my podcast on morning routines, I’ve even switched up my morning routine where it’s even more simplistic. I take an hour, that’s the optimal day for me to take an hour in the morning and I half an hour work on thought work and I’ll get more in to that as I do more podcasts. But I take time to really think about my thoughts and think about what it would be like to create the business I’m looking to create. So, getting my mind focused on what’s most important first thing. And then I read now for about 15 minutes to a half an hour and I read a book that I am currently interested in. So, my books change all the time.

But if I’m really being good, I’ll take an hour. And when I say an hour, that’s getting up and then getting coffee and then getting those things done. So, really, it’s a true 45-minute focus time at night. I’m not as good about it because I’m more tired in the evening time, so if I can get 15 minutes of reading at night, that’s perfect. The second thing that I like to do, if I’m feeling balanced is folk time focusing on building my business. Could be attending a meeting, a luncheon, having a coaching call with a client, having an in person program meeting, so focusing on my business feeds me so I know that if I’m having a balanced day I will have some type of work, which to me is fun sprinkled into my day. Number three is family time. I need time with family that is always Millie, Adam and then my mom and then if any other families in town, but having dinner with them, reading books with Millie is the key for me to be balanced.

Number four is exercise. I’m a better person in mind and body when I work out. So, daily I moved my body some way and usually that is Pilates because I love it and I love the people there. Number five, sprinkling in friend time is key and something I’m putting more attention to this year. I’m going to plan and schedule weekends away. I’m also going to look at just creating just nights out with friends. I know that with building a business, I have limited time, but I know that being around my friends creates joy in my life and I just love getting together with friends and talking girl stuff. You know, there’s so much you can share with your husband. So, just getting around the girls and being relaxed and sharing where we are really feeds my soul and that is what balances me and that’s what balance looks like to me.

So, if I have those five things in one day, that’s an amazing day. And realistically I don’t have five things like that in my day. Maybe I have, you know, half of them. So, it’s just realizing what balances for me and then figuring out how I can sprinkle those in. So, you see this is personal to me and where I am right now. This balance will change for me over time as Millie gets older and my interests change. But for now, this is exactly where I need to be. Hitting and touching in these areas daily and monthly to create the balance I need in my life to create my happiness. That’s the key. I also realize when I’m out of balance, when I’m doing too much work and not enjoying downtime with family or friends or working out, I can feel it. I’m off. Initially, I don’t know what it is most of the time, but if I get quiet and sit for a moment, I can narrow in on those areas I have been ignoring lately and need to start to pay attention to so I can gain my balance back.

Now, this is totally normal for everyone. Nothing is going wrong. Nothing is a problem. You just need to reset and move on. Everyone goes through this. Everyone who’s paying attention to what’s going on goes through a time where they feel out of balanced. Now, it’s your turn. This is your call to action. What does balance look like to you? If you had the ability to plan the perfect day, what would it look like? Where would you put your time to get the most happiness and feel the most balanced? This is the work that you need to do so that you can have a better and more intentional life. So, I’m going to repeat that one more time. Your action steps for the week, your calls to action are to sit with an answer these questions: number one, what does balance look like to you? Number two, if you had the ability to plan the perfect day, what would it look like?

Number three, where would you put your time to get the most happiness and feel the most balanced? Now, I would love to hear from you. Did something come up that you hadn’t thought about? Maybe an area that you have not given any attention to in a while, but realize that as imperative that you bring that thing back to feel balanced? You can email me at michelle@intentionalsolutionscorp.com to share with me what came up. I would love to hear that. You could also go on my Facebook page for my business and post there. But the real thing is, is if you take the time to do this on your own, I would love for you to share, but I just really want you to do the work. I know if you take the time to do this, you’re going to create an amazing personal and professional life. So, always remember to go to iTunes, Stitcher, Google play, and subscribe to the Strategy Corner. You can also go to my website, intentionalsolutionscorp.com, and sign up to get my weekly blog post, which also has a link to the latest podcast. Until next time, remember through action and growth progression happens. Let’s take action together. Thank you and create an amazing week.