Among other topics, this site is about balance. Whether investing, saving, learning, working, running, rowing, or lifting things up and putting them down, we constantly try to find and maintain our balance. Many aspects of our lives can feel this way.
I recently returned from London for my 9 to 5 (more like 8 to 7, sometimes 8 more recently) job. It was a great trip but also exhausting in terms of the pace. Between client visits, internal “global operating model” meetings, and various late nights, I was sad but also glad to be coming home.
I had been to London beforehand, but I found my second visit just as exciting as the first. We packed 3 weeks of work into 1 with little room for the unforeseen or unplanned events that always seem to happen.
5 Ways To Remember to Try and Find Balance
Overall, we had a very successful trip. Along the way though, here are 5 things I tried to remember to keep in mind during the trip.
1. Focus on a Few Key Things
At work, we have a list of over 120 initiatives. Some are small, specific tasks. Others are entire projects of their own. I feel we are trying to keep dozens of items moving forward in slow bursts.
It might be necessary, but we can sometimes find ourselves taking time to prioritize time just to prioritize. It feels like we hit project management paralysis via over analysis and prioritization. To help, it feels good to brain vomit: just write down everything that’s in your mind.
You need to take the time, to make the time, to have the time, to save time.
Related: Self-Reflection & Motivation
2. Pivot Between Goals and Initiatives in Blocks
Related to the above point, reacting or executing a task based on someone or something else can be tiresome. Collaboration and partnership is key, but it’s rewarding to work on and complete something that is also meaningful to you.
Find a balance to projects or goals that are important to you as well as others. You’ll need to switch between them – just do it as effectively as possible.
Walk, jog, run, or sprint – whatever the pace, make sure it’s efficient and manageable.
Related: 2018 Goals Overview: What Do You Want To Do This Year?
3. Make A Roadmap
Project plans, goals, and other documents can be very effective. They can also be extremely distracting and a complete waste of time if not managed properly.
Whether it’s a workout plan, an 18 month process improvement program, or a 5 year capital plan, a roadmap is key.
Spend time updating the map, but don’t spend more time updating it than actually traveling down your path.
Related: (Money) Muscles Checkpoint: Six Week Spending/Saving Status
4. Consider Different Ways of Doing Things
Creature of habit? If you can’t change something by doing right away, start by speaking about it. Wait a while. And then speak about it again. Eventually, your target audience will likely become more receptive (or at least numb and not want to argue about it any more).
Don’t try to boil the ocean; but do try in your own respective pond.
Related: 5 Ways to Balance Account Types To Balance Life’s (Un)known Milestones
5(+). Keep a List (For Fun!)
I kept a running list nuances that I found while in London. Here is the list of items that caught my attention. Some are more common – if not obvious – than others, but I always seem to learn a few new things from my friends and colleagues.
I hope we all continue to learn from each other; having fun is also key.
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Looking Back and – More Importantly – Ahead
I’m trying to stay alert and not get burned out. When I’m at the gym, I want to be running faster and lifting more. When I’m at work, I want to be delivering more and reaching results sooner. At home, I want to spend more time with Mrs. BD and other family and friends.
There are 24 hours in a day; we all have the same amount of time. We can’t do it all in a day, but reflecting every once in a while can help us find balance. And it’s ever ending.
Readers, what are you doing to try to find balance? How do you manage different goals and initiatives across the various areas of your day? What are you focusing on?
Our favorite free financial tool is Personal Capital. We use it to track our net worth, manage our spending & savings, and to monitor our investments. It’s simple and free to use. We recommend trying it out.
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Our favorite free financial tool is Personal Capital. We use it to track our net worth, manage our spending & savings, and to monitor our investments. It’s simple and free to use.
Hi Mike, I’m not very “intentional” about balance to a fault. I just try to listen to my brain and body and course correct when necessary. It’s a lot easier to do working part time versus the long hours you are putting in and I used to put it. Tom
Hi Tom – Good point on just going with how you feel. That’s a nice approach, especially if yo switch between things that are important to you. – Mike
Trying to maintain balance is a very important part of life. At work, things can sometime get hectic and right now I have a messy desk. So, what’s been helping me for the past couple of days is to have a to do list for the day and cross things off as I get to them.
London is one of my favorite places to visit. Still have to get used to lift and being asked if I’m on holiday, but I just love the accent!
Hi DP – thanks for your comments. A simple to-do list can be very powerful. I’ve found its important to not write too much down, as you’ll feel you’re not making progress. Then again, a good brain vomiting session sometimes does the trick as well! – Mike
I enjoyed this post. Thanks for writing it. It’s super important to have balance. It was hard for me to find balance with living my life in the present in the last 6 months. Either way, once I start working again it’s going to be difficult to juggle it all, so I have to practice being more effective in what I am doing now!
Hi HP – thanks for your comment – glad you enjoyed it. Good luck as you continue to start working again! – Mike