I have been trying to make all ends meet and still be unfulfilled; in-spite of many accomplishments in life. Not being able to travel enough at times, not being able to accept the dinner invitation the other day, not being able to complete the to do list at home, not being able to spend the weekend with my child, not being able to write the blog…..and it goes on. Multitasking and juggling was only creating an imbalance inside me so I decided to drop the ball sometime ago. I learned that balance isn’t the word I was looking for at all. In fact, the concept of finding that work/life balance doesn’t actually exist. Hear me out, because the search for balance is all over your Instagram and Pinterest feed, but maybe we should be striving for something else instead.
The reality I found is that balance is stationary, and real growth and transformation usually happen on shaky ground. So, if you want to get moving, overcome obstacles, and chase your passions, sometimes it’s necessary to disrupt the balance. There’s a way to find harmony, hustle sustainably, and accomplish what you want while moving with the ebb and flow of life.
Some easy steps I took towards disrupting my balance
- Change the paradigm of work/life balance- Imagine you quit/loose your job tomorrow morning (Don’t worry….haha), how would your life be? Do you still have enough to engage you or have you found a purpose where life seems larger than work? Now think that every task of your life is connected, your family, friends, wellness, travel, including your work. When you look at your life comprehensively, it dilutes the magnitude of individual tasks. This makes you dependent on the choices that you will make to balance life. You find yourself free to NOT be perfect, free from the fear of loosing your job as you are the one who is making those choices.
- Your physical body needs a break sometimes, but if you need a break from work, that means you are doing something you do not really care for. So choose what brings joy. Rethink your job.
- While every job has its highs and lows, it’s important to find a career that gives your life purpose, helps you grow, and makes you feel challenged, yet motivated.
- Spend your spare time wisely. Take a class, find a hobby, walk in the nature, work out, do something that is purposeful and works toward your ultimate goal.
- I used to receive work emails after midnight, and I felt like I had to respond. This, my friends, is a boundary that should have been set. Draw your own lines, voice them clearly and keep your promises.
- Stay curious. It’s a fine line that separates fear from curiosity. Curiosity allows us to stay open to new experiences and a look at ourselves, life and others from a perspective of willingness and at times, wonder.
Balance is unattainable, but harmony, joy, and wellness in your daily life are not. Strive for joy over perfection, strive for harmony over balance, and in the imbalance, you will grow and evolve into the best version of you.
There is no such thing called work life balance, it is all life. The balance has to be within you – Sadhguru
I agree that work life balance is an illusion. Unless you are happy nothing makes sense. We need to find mental balance before everything else!
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Arv happiness is the key
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😊
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Very beautifully articulated thoughts on disrupting balance for wellness. Loved your words ..”Strive for joy over perfection, strive for harmony over balance, and in the imbalance, you will grow and evolve into the best version of you.” Its so important to be aware of what our needs are. I completely echo that there is no such thing as work/life balance as work is also a part of life. What we need is peace of mind, healthy bodies and curiosity to learn!
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Very beautifully articulated thoughts on disrupting balance for wellness. Loved your words ..”Strive for joy over perfection, strive for harmony over balance, and in the imbalance, you will grow and evolve into the best version of you.” Its so important to be aware of what our needs are. I completely echo that there is no such thing as work/life balance as work is also a part of life. What we need is peace of mind, healthy bodies and curiosity to learn!
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Yes Navita curiosity keeps us all alive as we open our dimension to greater posiibilities
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I agree, I too, was looking for that unattainable work/life balance, only to find it doesn’t exist. This came at a time where work consumed all of my time and caused me to neglect areas of my life that were joyous. Now there is a happy medium now.
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I am so glad to know you found harmony, keep taking that time off to rejuvenate
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No matter what we do for a living, establishing boundaries is necessary. This is true whether you’re a travel blogger or have a demanding job or family. Taking a break to relax and enjoy life helps us rebalance and makes us more revitalized.
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Taking a break is so important Annick as long as we need a physical break and not work break
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I kinda agree with you there. We always try to achieve the ever elusive balance, but its easier said than done isnt it?
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Its surely difficult Sreekar but magic happens once we disrupt our balance
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I totally agree with you. Disrupting balance is very important for wellness. Not only physical but mental too. The steps you described are really important. I used to receive work emails after work hours too. Now I have take care of that. Amazing post.!
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Great that you give time to yourself to rejuvenate, else we harden
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Great posts! Especially about finding a job that fits you. They always say, if you enjoy your job, it isn’t actually “work”.
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True Amy, joyful work can be so effortless
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Finding a right balance is so important , for me its very hard as i always try to do 100 things at once but i also do not want life to pass me by
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That is where harmony will play its part. As long as you enjoy why not 100 things at once!
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I made a huge change last year when I returned home after 18 years overseas. I’m happy to be back in Canada, but I am still looking for that balance. Great post.
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Your choice of coming back home will bring fulfillment Nancie, let harmony take over the balance
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Amen sister!!! Time to change the convo – balance cannot be achieved, but choices CAN be made!!
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Yes Renee and making these choices is so much easier now
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I couldn’t agree more! As important as finding the right balance is, it is quite challenging. We’re all seeking disruption of some sort all the time. Very beautifully put. Cheers!!
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True Aditi it is very challenging but the miracle happens when we put ourselves in those challenging situations
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I somehow find multi-tasking somewhat balancing for my hyperactive mind.
Great article!
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Thank you Fiona
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You have to find balance within yourself amid the imbalance of life. Seek joy in chaos while living your passions.
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Totally Indu seeking Joy has taken the fear of being perfect away and life seems so much free
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Totally great advice! I keep encouraging my husband to think of and find something that he loves, I hate that he feels unfulfilled in his job! Sometimes upsetting the balance is needed too!
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Ayana you are so right. Upsetting the balance sometimes brings those shaky grounds where most of the transformation happens. Hope your husband finds that harmony soon
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I can completely relate to this post. i used to work even on my days off. It was no way to live. I have r a new job now and can finally take some time for me and my family.
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Melanie RETHINKING job makes us free where work becomes so joyful that we don’t need a break from it anymore
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I agree with your thoughts! I also don’t believe in life-work balance, that’s why I quite my office job 7 years ago. I still have much to grow and many transformations ahead!
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Nat its great how you took charge and made a choice. Being a seeker adds so much to transformation and development
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Seems like everything is working against you – but then again that balance between life and work is hard to find 🙂
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You know everything is working exactly the way it shall work, the difference was that it was not working as per my expectations and choosing joy over perfection made all the difference 🙂
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Work life balance totally depends on how happy are you. Without happiness, you will end up stressed out always
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YES! Sometimes it’s necessary to disrupt the balance! I am at that place right now trying to find a new balance!
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I think disrupting balance can be a rewarding thing sometimes. In the end what matters is that we are happy in our life.
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Well said- balance might be difficult but harmony is just within your reach. I need to practice and remember some of that. There are days when I am all over the place. Remembering this will help.
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This post has a good sets of thought. You’re right, well said.
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Finding a balance between life and work can be difficult – I definitely find it challenging myself 😦 this article was written beautifully x
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Sadhguru is amazing! love the post
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We all strive for balance and happiness and as 2019 is approaching I think we shall have some resolutions in place 🙂
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