A well-balanced life is essential for our personal well-being and effectiveness. The goal is to balance what we HAVE to do with what we WANT to do. But it's not always easy. If we can't reduce stress and manage a well-balanced lifestyle, there can be physical and/or emotional consequences.
Try incorporating these tips into your daily life:
Find a routine
It might feel like just another thing to do, but creating a schedule and sticking to a routine gives us a feeling of control, which is especially helpful during stressful times.
But it’s also important to acknowledge that you might need to be flexible with your new routine. You need to find one that works not just for you but those sharing your home environment.
Routines help recharge your mental batteries and keep you feeling your best.
Be kind to yourself & recharge
If a friend told you how tired and overwhelmed they are, you'd probably tell them to take some time for themselves. Maybe it's time to take your own advice?
With the pandemic, we’re all juggling a new normal and need to be reminded that we can’t do it all. In a recent article released by the Canadian Mental Health Association, lead researcher Emily Jenkins said “Good mental health is not about being happy all the time but having appropriate emotional and behavioural responses to stressors and life events.”
Everyone has their own thing that makes them feel better. Activities like writing in a journal, spending time in the garden or taking a long bath are not indulgences – they’re important parts of self-care that help to recharge you mentally.
Prioritize exercise and healthy habits
While we may not be able to control much right now, we can control our exercise habits. Exercise plays a significant role in how we cope with the stress of everyday life.
Try taking a walk before work, or wrap up your work day with a walk, bike ride or activity of your choice. Doing something good for yourself can reap huge rewards and you might find you enjoy a daily workout.
Make time to eat right
The right diet is one that you can stick to and one that fuels your body to do all the things you love. Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring or time-consuming. With a little advance preparation, you can find foods you enjoy that are also packed with health benefits.
'Everything in moderation' is a good guide for planning your nutrition. If you're choosing healthy options most of the time, you can enjoy the treats when you want them.
What’s most important is doing what works best for you. Stop judging yourself against others or advice you read online. Everyone is dealing with their own set of challenges and sometimes you just need to be reminded that you and your mental and emotional well-being are a priority.