Work-life balance: A feasible goal, or a fanciful dream?

In today's fast-paced world, the concept of work-life balance has become a hot topic of discussion. New coaching clients often ask me… “Is work-life balance a feasible goal, or merely a fanciful dream?” Some coaches argue that the pursuit of work-life balance is an unrealistic endeavor, citing the ever-blurring lines between work and home life due to technological advancements and societal expectations. But I beg to disagree. I believe striving for balance in life is essential.?

In my career spanning 30 years beginning in medicine and transitioning into corporate training, life coaching, and medical writing… including more than a decade of entrepreneurship, I have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. I have had periods of burnout, chronic stress and anxiety, and other periods (when forced to take a career break due to family illness) of boredom, loss of identity, and deep depression. I have come to firmly believe that the quest for balance should not just be between work-life and non-work-life but also between the competing areas or domains of life.?

Why is work-life balance important?

I believe that despite its challenges, life balance remains a desirable and worthwhile pursuit. Unintentionally neglecting an area of life inevitably leads to problems including dissatisfaction, stress, mental and physical health issues, relationship strain, a lack of joy and satisfaction, poor quality of life, and a bucketload of regrets.?

There is a notable exception to the rule “don’t neglect an area of your life”: intentional neglect. A couple of examples: first if a person has a baby they may choose to neglect their career for a time, second if a person is studying for important exams they may choose to neglect friendships or having fun until the exams are over.?

How to Create a Balanced Life

Let’s face it one of the only certainties in life is uncertainty, thus living a perfect and consistently balanced life is unrealistic. However, striving for a semblance of equilibrium can significantly enhance our wellbeing, productivity, relationships, and quality of life.?

Here are eight steps to design and then create a balanced life

1. Assess Your Life

Many people leap straight into drastic changes in their life and they usually regret this as they find they jump out of the proverbial frying pan into the fire. So I highly recommend taking stock of your life. Consider using a coaching tool like my “Life Audit” to assess your life. Click here to download https://www.drleonaurarhodes.com/lifeaudit/

2. Take a Look in the Mirror: Who Are You?

Part of the human condition is constant change. You are not the same person you were 20 years ago, 10 years ago, or even 1 year ago. You see every major experience in your life changes the wiring in your brain. What this means is that what will make you happy today is not the same as what made you happy in the past. And if you want to create a more balanced life you’ll benefit from getting an up-to-date picture of who you are today.?

3. Dream Big

Remember when you were a kid and you had big crazy dreams… like becoming an astronaut, a ballet dancer, or a famous actor? Well, the people who became those things had similar dreams at a similar age. Now as an adult, you need to be a little more realistic but you can still dream big. You have huge untapped potential and a balanced life is possible.? Imagine what your life would look like if it were well-balanced and you had an abundance of all the things you desire.?

4. Get Strategic

While I love the idea of the law of attraction (thoughts and beliefs shape a person’s reality and positive thoughts attract positive experiences) sadly for most people a balanced life will not magically happen. You’ll need to find and implement a set of strategies for improving those areas of life that need a boost.?

5. Manage your Time, Energy and Attention

I frequently say to my clients “Your time, energy, and attention are your most precious resources”. If you want a more balanced life you must spend these resources well. Effective time management is key to balancing work and personal life. This includes setting realistic goals, prioritizing tasks, taking micro-breaks, and breaking larger projects into manageable steps. Learning to delegate and automate tasks can also free up valuable time.

6. Boost Your Brain

Your body is like a finely tuned racecar and your brain is the operating system for your body and your life. If you want it to perform well you must look after it. Improving the health of your body, brain, and mind will make it easier to implement the strategies for change. While many lifestyle changes can help, my top 5 are: Improving diet and hydration, exercising regularly, working on emotional regulation, positive social interactions, and good sleep.?

7. Seek Support

We humans are social creatures and we can shortcut success by asking for support. Don't hesitate to seek advice and support from family, friends, your coach, or other professionals on how to change. Ask for practical help if you need it from family, friends, colleagues, and your employer. Seeking and accepting support is a sign of strength.?

8. Practice Gratitude

If you look for the good in your life you are more likely to find it. Taking time each day to reflect on and appreciate the good in your life can shift your perspective, reduce stress, and improve your ability to navigate challenges in both work and personal life. Brain scans show that gratitude journaling improves brain health.??

In the end, creating a life of greater balance and fulfillment starts with looking inward. Take some time for honest self-reflection. Figure out what really matters to you and areas where you'd like some positive change. A useful tool like the Life Audit can help pinpoint the specifics.

Just don't put too much pressure on yourself! Personal growth happens little by little through consistent effort. It's about appreciating who you are now, while still dreaming big about who you can become.

Small, strategic steps in the right direction can lead to amazing transformations over time. But you have to take that first step. So think it through, make a plan, and start putting it into action. An amazing journey of self-discovery and positive life changes awaits!