Download your 7 daily journaling prompts here!
| how_to_maintain_balance_in_your_life.pdf |
I am so enjoying my neighborhood right now!
It has been a very interesting journey through the month of May. I have really been enjoying exploring the idea of BALANCE with all of you, and hope you've enjoyed it and found it as useful as I have! And maybe you feel the same way, but even as 'out of balance' as I feel my life has been lately -- and fast-paced and bit of a whirlwind, to be honest --- it has done me good to even try to contemplate the idea of 'a balanced life.' You know?
And I would just like to add, the other key part of trying to maintain balance, or at least keeping one's day from going even more off-balance, is PUTTING UP BOUNDARIES. This is one of my favorite topics ever! I won't go into all of my thoughts on this right now because it would turn into its own blog post, but suffice it to say that:
1. BOUNDARIES is the theme for June!
2. I am creating a course on Creating Boundaries as we speak!
These guys are my current vegan or 'vegainz' inspiration! Aren't they adorkable?? They are all big vegan fitness dudes -- and more importantly, I love their energy and sense of humor. Watching their videos on fitness and eating vegan for their health and working out, they just exude a love and appreciation of life and living. I love that. From left, @beyondtheweak, @nimaidelgado, @simnettnutrition, @jonvenus Thank you for all your hard work!
Before I get completely carried away, this blog post is about--- Keeping Up the Momentum that you have done such an incredible job of starting! Starting is easy-- maintaining is key! And putting up boundaries to make sure you stay in balance is a key way to try to stay in balance.
Before we get into how to keep up our momentum, let's do a quick overview of what we've covered this month:
Week 1: Are You Living a Balanced Life?
This week we asked what does a balanced life mean to you? How would you feel?
What are the different components that make up a balanced life for you? (Time for family, friends, yourself, travel, hobbies, work, etc) What would an ideal balanced day look like? What would an ideal balanced year look like?
Living A Balanced Life, doesn't mean that everything's perfect, or we don't have any struggles or challenges. A balanced life is a goal that we're aiming for, that we're constantly tweaking and readjusting to the different challenges that life is always throwing at us.
Another one of my fav vegan snacks right now--- almond milk and cinnamon raisin whole wheat toast, with fresh ground peanut butter (OK, full disclaimer, honey is still my weakness!, plus hemp seeds).
Week 2: Where is Your Life Off Balance?
We took a bird's eye view assessment of the different areas of your life, to see where you are 'in' and 'out' of balance! We got to see a clear assessment of where we're at and then ponder over the areas that were off-balance and think about how we would like it to be instead. Again, keeping it short and simple. This does not need to be an elaborate life plan. But a quick snapshot of a few words how we'd like to feel in that area of our life.
Week 3: How Can We Make Our Lives More IN Balance?
1. Do more of what we enjoy
2. Do less of what we don’t enjoy
3. Consciously cut out toxicity
This list may sound overly simple --- but I believe life with all its unknown and uncontrollable factors makes things complicated enough without us adding to it! And just because a strategy is simple, does not necessarily make it ineffective! Am I right? So sitting and thinking and making time to think about what actually makes us happy, relaxed is oh so important. And then trying to cut down on those things in our week that we don't enjoy (again --- very closely related to boundaries! *wink *wink) or trying to modify them as much as we can is very helpful.
And finally, identifying the toxic things or people in our lives and trying to cut them out altogether --if possible! Toxic situations, unlike #2 which might be your tiresome commute let's say, are things that are actually detrimental to our health like a job or even friend who is not healthy for us.
I'd like this as a poster please! Left: @beyondtheweak @jonvenus @simnettnutrition
And now we come full circle, to Keeping Up the Momentum that we gained this month so far.
AND.... I'd just like to add, as always, it is 100% OK if you did not finish ALL the daily journaling prompts from the last few weeks. Please! There are so many things I'm behind on in my life, you would be appalled. Wherever you are at, is just where you need to be. OK?
Here are 3 things you can do this week to Keep Up Your Balanced Life Momentum:
1. Reassess Regularly
Look back and see the progress you've made so far! Trust me, there is some forward progress you made, no matter how small. It is significant. Sometimes it is not just the action that we do, but also the shifts in our mindset. Think and journal on something new you tried this week-- either to do more of what you enjoy, or less of what you don't, for example-- how did it go? Was it difficult? Anything you would try different next time?
AND.... I'd just like to add, as always, it is 100% OK if you did not finish ALL the daily journaling prompts from the last few weeks. Please! There are so many things I'm behind on in my life, you would be appalled. Wherever you are at, is just where you need to be. OK?
Here are 3 things you can do this week to Keep Up Your Balanced Life Momentum:
1. Reassess Regularly
Look back and see the progress you've made so far! Trust me, there is some forward progress you made, no matter how small. It is significant. Sometimes it is not just the action that we do, but also the shifts in our mindset. Think and journal on something new you tried this week-- either to do more of what you enjoy, or less of what you don't, for example-- how did it go? Was it difficult? Anything you would try different next time?
REALLY easy packed lunch! Firm tofu, uncooked (!) with soy sauce, though I plan on trying Bragg's amino acid next. And stir fried kale on the right. Though I think in future I prefer spinach..
2. Add More Balance
Look over your list of things that make you feel joy, happiness, calm. Let's add more of those to your week! Take 1 thing, that doesn't feel like a big ordeal to insert into your current schedule. Find a time that you can do it on your calendar. And paste it in your calendar! I don't want to be nagging or sound repetitive, but... if it's not on our calendar, we will likely never do it! Riiiight?
3. Grab a Friend!
New habits and routines are always more fun to do with friends! Share this month's theme and posts with a friend. Do the Balance Assessment with them. Share your experiences, hear each other's areas of in/out of balance. You may even get new ideas of how to change things up in your own life!
Look over your list of things that make you feel joy, happiness, calm. Let's add more of those to your week! Take 1 thing, that doesn't feel like a big ordeal to insert into your current schedule. Find a time that you can do it on your calendar. And paste it in your calendar! I don't want to be nagging or sound repetitive, but... if it's not on our calendar, we will likely never do it! Riiiight?
3. Grab a Friend!
New habits and routines are always more fun to do with friends! Share this month's theme and posts with a friend. Do the Balance Assessment with them. Share your experiences, hear each other's areas of in/out of balance. You may even get new ideas of how to change things up in your own life!
CARB OVERLOAD DAY!! Yes, in other words, my period came 4 days early (??!) (stress will do it to ya) and probably made up for my carbs for the month in 24hrs..
Your 7 Day~ 10 Minute Journaling Prompts:
Day 1: One New Thing
Did you try a new strategy recently of doing more of something you enjoy or less of something you don't? If you already have, journal on what that was like (easy, hard, anything surprising about it). If you haven't yet, think and write about what is something you will try this week! And.. you know what I'm going to say --- put it in your calendar!
Day 2: Whiskers on Kittens
Journal on the things that bring you happiness, calm, feelings of joy or relaxation. Pick one that you can easily do this week.
Day 3: Schedule it
Schedule it into your calendar: Think about how much time it will take, when would it work well in your schedule or when can you really benefit from it. Maybe it's during your commuting-transition time or the early morning quiet or wind down time before you go to bed.
Day 4: REST
This can be a little self-care, treat yourself to some fiction reading, doing your nails, or a little catch up!
Day 5: Brainstorm
New habits are always more fun with friends! Who would you LOVE to invite to try this out with you? Not just who could benefit from this -- lot of people-- but who would be a great partner with you on this journey? Who would be a great support and you'd have fun with along the way? Brainstorm a few names and your thoughts on who might be good companion.
Day 6: Invite them!
Either send them a note, give them a call, however you prefer. Explain to them what you are trying to do, send them a link to the blog post that resonates for you, and invite them to join you! Maybe you invite 3 friends, and one works out. Remember to set a date to meet up as well --- either in person or virtually --- to kick things off.
Day 7: REST
This is a perfect self-appreciation day! Take yourself to your favorite place and bring your journal or take a walk. Celebrate YOU and the amazing progress you are making everyday to make yourself a priority and set up your life the way you want it. I am so proud of you!
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