LIFESTYLE 9 years ago

How to Have a More Balanced Life

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Whether you’re a student, working mom or anything in between, one thing that everyone struggles with is bringing balance to your life. Not that I have the end all be all answers for you, but I can say that after becoming a mom, bringing a sense of balance to my life has definitely become a priority for me. Before Chloe, I was sprinting through life. There was no stopping me. I’ve realized that it’s not about how fast you can finish the race but instead about finding the speed that works for you. Yes we want to be more productive, achieve more and become more successful, but now for me it’s about taking the time to actually enjoy it. For instance, although bringing Chloe to the office isn’t the most productive thing for me to do, it brings my team and I so much happiness and joy, which in the end is more conducive for a work and life balance. So today, I want to share with you some tips and tricks that have personally worked to bring more balance into my life.

1. Working out / Meditating in the Morning

I used to prefer working out in the evening after I was done with all my work, but after Chloe I had to switch up my schedule. Since I have to put her down for bed by 7pm on the dot, I find it more effective for my schedule to work out in the morning. I’ve been working out on and off in the morning for the past year and I’ve seen a huge difference in my mindset and energy. It really sets the tone for the day. As you guys have seen from my workout video I alternate between pilates, yoga and boxing. I’ve also been meditating. Although meditation can sound intimidating, it all depends on how you look at it. It’s more so about what brings you a sense of peace. For me, I meditate when I work out. I know this might sound silly but when I meditate, I always envision who I want to become, where I want to be, and the steps I need to get there. When I don’t workout in the mornings I feel a little empty. I think it’s because it’s beyond the physical element of the workout, I miss the mental motivation that comes along with it. I know it sounds weird to tell yourself affirmations and imagining a bigger picture, but trust me; you’ll get the hang of it!

2. Podcasts

If you guys haven’t heard by now, podcasts are the new ‘it’ thing. If you think about how much time we spend in a car (especially if you’re in Cali!) or if you’re on public transportation, you’ll realize that that time can be used for personal growth instead of just listening to your favorite songs on the radio. (Although I’m totally guilty of this too.) You can fill your brain with such amazing ideas, inspirations or new knowledge! So the next time you’re sitting in traffic I challenge you, instead of turning on your favorite song, try downloading a podcast,. If you guys are curious, I can do a post on my favorite podcasts! Let me know in the comments!

3. Disconnect

In this day and age with social media, it’s important to disconnect from it all once in a while. At first it’s terrifying thinking about not being able to check your phone for a day, a few hours or even just one hour. But again, once you start you’ll get addicted to it! On the weekdays I shut out from 6-9pm. During these hours, my team can’t get in touch with me and my phone is left behind somewhere because this is my time with my family. And it’s these hours that I look forward to every single day. It’s funny because I come home extremely exhausted every single day from work but right when it hits 6pm my energy comes back. I think it’s because I know this is my time to disconnect from the outside world and connect with my family. This revitalizes me physically and mentally so I try to do this on the weekend as well!

4. Counselor

A counselor doesn’t mean you have to hire a professional therapist. This could be a confidante! Whether it’s your best friend, mom or even a coworker, it’s great to have people to talk to. As busy as you get, you want to make sure you spend time with these people every so often because at least for me, they’re the ones that keep me sane. For example, I usually have an hour commute from work and that’s usually my time to catch up with my BFF Linette or my sister Jane. They always laugh when I call because they know it’s because I’m stuck in traffic! So if I’m not listening to a podcast I use that time to catch up with them! We talk about everything from what we ate or the real life issues we are going through, career or our personal lives.

5. Staycation

I never really understood the concept of a staycation because it’s counterintuitive to drive to a random place to stay at when you can just drive home. Allen and I have been staycationing for the past 3 years and it’s the one thing that we look forward to every single month. I recommend doing a staycation because it takes the pressure off planning an entire vacation. When I plan a vacation, there are so many things I want to do and see. Whereas if you’re staying locally, it takes the pressure off of trying to do everything. You’re truly able to unwind and enjoy being there! One of Allen and I’s favorite places to stay at is in Palos Verdes and it’s great because if we forget something, we can just drive down the hill to get it. It completely takes the pressure of having to pack too! We’re able to enjoy good food and each others company. I’m not saying you have to check into a fancy hotel in order to have a staycation either. For example, Karen Rosalie from my team recently went on a staycation and found a very affordable and remote Airbnb in the mountains of Malibu and was able to completely check out for the weekend. Unexpected and creative things can happen when you check out!

Although we are already in February, it’s still the beginning of 2016. I hope this post helps to shed some light on bringing more balance into your life. Personally I don’t believe there is such a thing as a perfect balanced life. To me balance is about what brings peace to you on a daily basis, so I hope this takes the pressure off of trying to have that perfect life and helps to remind you to just add more peace into your daily schedule!

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If you remember from Blushing Over Pink and Five Tips for a Light and Dreamy Bedroom, we had a Valentine’s Day giveaway with Kathy Kuo for a gorgeous jewelry box. The winner is Athena Ho! Congrats Athena & keep an eye out for an email to claim your prize!

Credits:

Photography by Karen Rosalie