Planning for Balance means Planning for Success

As January comes to a close it is time to put plans into action. I've joined a number of virtual networking events this month and each one has included a break-out session to discuss, "what did you learn in 2020?" If I have to summarize it in one sentence it's, "Every no is a yes." If I only get one word it's, "Balance".

Let me be more specific on that one. I did not perfect Balance in 2020. I don't know any parents working through the pandemic with elementary school-aged children who have told me they achieved great balance in 2020. There were periods where I faced critical burnout (#BellLetsTalkDay). What I did learn is the importance to prioritize balance, because without planning for it, it's impossible to achieve.

So in 2021, I am creating space to make this happen. It's going to be critical to a successful first year of Miix Analytics, for my own mental health (#BellLetsTalkDay) and for my family's health and happiness. I am achieving this by using a really simple framework: The Balance Wheel. Google it and you'll find numerous great images and examples others have put together.

If you are currently considering ways you can optimize your time spent in 2021 and identify ways to be successful in life, I challenge you to draw your own. I'll even share mine in hopes it can inspire your thinking as you build your own. I decided to give myself a total of eight sections to prioritize in 2021:

1. Spirituality: I begin each day with journaling, self-reflection, gratitude, and a reminder of my priorities.
2. Self Care: This includes exercise, fueling my body with the foods that serve me, and reading. No, this does not include laundry, dishes, other household chores that unfortunately many parents are now defining as 'me' time.
3. Relationship: We get one life to live. It's important to me to spend time nurturing the partnership I am blessed to have in my life.
4. Children: My daughters are my proudest accomplishment. Too many times in 2020 they heard me apologize on virtual calls for their interruptions while they struggled through virtual learning. Their happiness and health are a priority and I want them to know it.
5. Parents: We are blessed with six parents. Covid has been especially difficult on the senior population. While we can't see or hug our parents right now, phone calls are a way we can support their mental health and continue to build and nurture our relationships with them.
6. Best Friends: One of the greatest gifts in life, especially once you find the ones who really lift you up, who support you, and you can offer the same in return. If you are still looking for that friend, they are out there so please keep looking.
7. Volunteer Work: My mother showed me from a young age that no matter what our situation, there's always someone else who is more in need. I was lucky to find a tribe of women in my neighbourhood who were ready to jump all into a charity initiative we started in 2017 called WishList. I'll never turn down spending hours of my personal time working with these incredible women to support local charities that need our help.
8. Miix Analytics: Most Balance wheels include a career bucket. Of course, Miix Analytics will get a lot of my focus in 2021 as it's my Passion meets Purpose! And with the support of #1 through #7 above, I know Miix Analytics is set up for success.

Now you might think this still sounds like a lot. If you find 8 is too many for you, cut the number down. For me, 8 is perfect (plus it's one of my favourite numbers, along with 3). The trick to make this work is that anything not on this list gets a hard 'no'. Once you create your Balance Wheel keep it visible close to where you work. Mine is drawn out on the whiteboard next to my desk. I look at it every time I am asked for something as a screener to accept or reject the request. I have even started a little list of things I have said no to, and let me tell you the feeling of empowerment this offers is incredible.

Last, to wrap this up, I'm sure you noticed the gorgeous flamingo image at the top. As part of my Self-Care (section #2), I'm going to add an additional challenge to myself to try to master the Flamingo yoga pose in the month of February. Wish me luck!

(Yoga Photo by Liliya Dyulgerov on Unsplash)

~ Hilary