How to Live a Balanced Life

2017 is shaping up to be the biggest and busiest year of my life. Between working 50-60 hours a week in my professional career, consulting, blogging, planning a wedding, working out daily and having some sort of social life, it is safe to say that maintaining balance in life is not always easy.

Although I have multiple balls up in the air, I have developed a few life hacks to stay organised and maintain balance in my life which I will share with you below. Living a balanced life starts by:

1. Knowing your Priorities

What are your goals and what are you working towards? I am a big believer in prioritising tasks and ensuring I am meeting all my personal and professional tasks and obligations. I utilise a to-do list to write down my tasks on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Something about putting pen to paper instantly makes me feel more calm and in control of everything I need to get done. I simply cross out each item on my to-do list upon completion- it helps me to feel a sense of accomplishment.

2. Learn How to Switch-Off

This one is still a work-in-progress for me. Having down-time and learning to switch off are instrumental in living a balanced life. Try to not check your work email in the evenings and weekends and if you must do so, schedule certain times in the day to do it, say for example 4-5pm in the afternoon. This way, you are still allowing yourself to mentally switch off from work, but are still making yourself available to fulfil any commitments.

3. Eat Healthy & Workout

Having a balanced life means maintaining a good diet and exercising regularly. There is no such thing as being too busy to work out. Make your health a priority and schedule in at least 30 minutes to work out each day. Your mind and your body will thank you for it.

4. Learn How to Say No

I am a big believer in saying yes to new opportunities, however saying yes to things when you need to say no can lead to exhaustion and burnout. It is important to know your own limits and listen to your body. Learn how to say no in a gracious and guilt-free manner by:

• Starting with a compliment if it suits the situation
• Stating your answer
• Thanking the person
• Changing the topic of conversation

What are some of your tips for living a well-balanced life? Leave your comments below!