Achieving Balance

Written by: Kamia F. Slaughter

Achieving balance can be such a challenge. Balance looks differently depending on what season of life you’re enjoying and enduring. Suppose you are pursuing an advanced or professional degree. In that case, you may prioritize time spent at an institution of higher learning, networking with colleagues, and reading and writing about theory and practice. Suppose you are working to build family ties. In that case, you may spend most of your time caring for a partner and/or kids, strengthening relationships with your support system, and prioritizing your mental and physical health so you can give them the best version of yourself. Balance is not always a 50/50 divide. Its unevenness illuminates the ebbs and flows of the most memorable parts of your life. 

Creating boundaries with people helps achieve balance. For example, if you reserve Sundays for rest, leisure, and spirituality checks, communicate your plans to loved ones. Tell them you do not accept text messages, phone calls, or event invitations on those days. Similarly, you can set clear expectations in your professional life. If it is important to you to squeeze in an early morning workout or pick up your kids from school every afternoon, communicate your preferences to colleagues. Flexible schedules are becoming more common and popular in the workplace. Take advantage of them! 

It can sometimes be daunting to think about balance through the lens of your entire lifestyle and lifespan. Instead, think about it from day to day and week to week. Thinking about how much you attend to people, places, and causes in smaller increments of time will help you remain mindful of how your “balance pendulum” swings backward and forward. Know that it is okay to achieve balance in traditionally unconventional ways. It’s okay to change your priorities and value systems. Achieving balance is your individual journey, and you get to decide who and what gets to be a part of it.