Eight simple ways to find balance

Simple things can motivate and inspire us to feel better. When we feel better, we do better, and this can support better life experiences. Here are eight activities that are doable yet simple and may make a real difference in your achievement of a balanced life.

Simple activities to support a more balanced life

Here are eight activities that are doable, yet simple, and may make a real difference in your achievement of a balanced life.

1. Give gratitude

If you are reading this, you can breathe. You have the use of your senses. You can comprehend. Think of what you have around you - the things you possess, a roof over your head, a bed to lie in, clothes to wear. By acknowledging and giving gratitude, this can create the energy for more good things to flow into your life. What do you have gratitude for?

2. Smile

Try it. That’s right: smile. Don’t you feel better already? Think of a wonderful experience, a happy moment, holidays, or fun times spent with family or friends. Too often, we dwell on thoughts that are not supportive of our positive well-being. Smiling may help shift your mood and make you feel better, less anxious and less stressed. Make an effort to smile when you feel down. Notice how your outlook on a situation changes as a result.

3. Get perspective

In a challenging situation, ask yourself: “What’s the worst that can happen?” “In a year, what will I think about this?” “What’s another way to look at this?” Make the effort to see your difficult issue from the opposing viewpoint. By challenging surface thinking, you may develop a more empowering perspective.

4. Get moving

Play an upbeat song and do a wild and exaggerated dance around the bedroom. You may also want to start a regular workout at the gym or go for a walk. Do whatever it takes to raise your energy. Keep this flowing and notice the difference in your motivation and energy levels.

5. Say hi and listen

Did you know that the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham, is named after Alfred Bird, who invented custard in the 1800s? Bird was a pharmacist who also invented baking powder. These interesting facts emerged in a random conversation I struck up with someone in the sauna recently.

Today, talk to someone you don’t know. Show interest in them, ask questions and have the objective: “I want to learn something from this person today.”

6. Do nothing

The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, suggests that 20% of input can lead to 80% of output or results. Try adding 10 minutes of devoted “do nothing” time into your daily routine. Find a comfortable, quiet place, sit upright, close your eyes and practise silencing the mind.

This might be difficult at first, as random fleeting thoughts come and go. Yet with practice, you may improve your ability to meditate in the “do nothing” state. Set an alarm to sound after 10 minutes. In allowing time for inner peace, calm and tranquillity, you may feel more energised to accomplish tasks on your daily agenda and do so with renewed vigour.

7. Enjoy something

What activity takes you into that state of being so totally absorbed that nothing else matters? What do you focus on that challenges you, yet gives a total sense of satisfaction when completed? Create a list of five things you enjoy doing - whatever it is that makes time not matter. This could be painting, playing a musical instrument, writing a short story or a poem, for example. For me, it’s reading or playing Solitaire. Once you’ve decided on the tasks, choose one and make it happen. Build this activity into your daily or weekly routine.

8. Be different

Do something out of the ordinary. Perhaps change your style of clothing, take a different route to work, have a conversation about something you wouldn’t usually talk about, or go to the gym at a different time. Shake up your routine in some way.

As you shift into the zone of new experiences, treat this as a field experiment on yourself. Record your observations. What did you enjoy about doing things differently? What interesting things happened? How can you create more differences that bring you a greater sense of balanced well-being?

“Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realise there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

Lao Tzu.

As you work towards achieving your goals, try out a new thought, attitude or behaviour that is simple, yet powerful in shifting the balance of well-being in your favour.