I've decided to add some humor in my journey to wellness. It would be very easy for me to get so focused (or perhaps more accurately- A-type) on finding balance that I actually miss the whole point of this journey. Don't they say that laughter is the best medicine? I've always been able to see the humor in life, and especially myself. I think laughter keeps me grounded rather then getting stuck in my head. So the Busy Body's Blog to Balance seemed like the perfect title that honors, in a tongue and cheek fashion, some not so serious, things I love: being a Busy Body (have been since the tender age of 2 and I wear the title with pride) and Alliteration (there is something beautiful about seeing/hearing the same letter repeated in a sentence). Staying true to myself is the only way I am going to stick to anything and although I want to see some change in myself, I really just want to be a better version of me. Humor and all!
But don't let that make you think I am not taking this journey seriously. I can guarantee you this is going to be one of the most challenging things I have ever done. I will have to fight against every bad work habit I have formed. I need to create ways to make me accountable to myself and those around me who need me to be healthy. So like any good Busy Body I am developing a system to help me learn new healthy habits and create a routine that will keep me on track but is flexible enough to work within the realities of having two young children and owning a business.
So I have come up with the 5 Targets. The 5 Targets represent 5 of the most important areas of my life. They could be different for different people but here are mine:
- Work
- Family
- Home
- Me
- Friends
Right now my goal is to simply ensure I have time dedicated to each area everyday. If I look at my life the last year there have been many days when the only target I was meeting each day was Work. I am hoping by having 5 simple targets I am accountable for daily I will begin to work on finding more balance. Why did I pick 5 targets? Well the truth is I have 5 fingers on one hand (and as I mom usually one hand is busy holding or doing something else) so it is a quick way for me to go through my list at any point during the day to keep track of if I am meeting my targets.
For now I am not assigning any sort of time or value to any of these targets. In the beginning I know if will be challenging enough just to meet my 5 targets everyday. Here is an example of how I met my targets today:
Work: 9:30am-12:30pm Meetings and emails max 3 hours. This is one area I have put a time limit on as I know if I don't I may not stop.
Family: Since it has been raining today we are going to take the girls to Kidz Quarterz! Hoping to get some quality snuggle time with my hubby tonight.
House: Tidied up the girls toys and books. This is an area I really need to get into more of a routine and organized about because I really hate house work and it shows!
Me: Went to a Fit Mom class today with both girls to sweat! Exercise is a must for my mental and physical health. Tonight I plan on reading before bed to help me relax.
Friends: Helped out a friend today with one of her classes and chatted on the phone with another friend. Friends are definitely an area that has majority suffered the last year so I am looking forward to rebuilding relationships.
Two days into the 5 Target plan and I am feeling good about the balance it has allowed me to achieve. Not only is it an easy way to keep track of keeping my life well rounded, but it also makes me feel good to see what I have been able to accomplish. Guilt and the "should of's" have often added to my anxiety in the past so by writing down my 5 Targets daily for the next little while I am hoping to leave those thoughts behind me and move forward with more realistic expectations of myself.
If you are having trouble finding balance in your life try the Busy Body's 5 Targets! Yours don't have to be the same a mine, but pick the 5 areas of your life that are a priority and try to make sure you are doing at least one thing everyday that meets each target. And remember (I write this so I will also remember) it is ok if one day you miss a target. Balance is not an absolute, it is always changing. By writing down your targets you can monitor if one area is always lacking or if another area is taking too much time.
Thanks for letting me share my journey with you!
Jessica