5 reasons why you struggle to find balance in your life

Juggling work, blogging, relationships and self-care can feel like a constant challenge, especially if, like me, you tend to take more on your plate than is actually wise. All you want is a little balance in your life.

While balance is really something I strive for, sometimes it can be hard to feel balanced when you want to do too much at once. And if I’m completely honest, sometimes it’s because I just don’t use my time in the best way (don’t judge me!).

Balance means something different to everyone, of course, but most of us are looking for it in one way or another. When you’re burned out and stressed, balance seems like the ultimate medicine.

If you just can’t seem to get balance in your life, here are five reasons why that is (and what you can do about it!).

1. You don’t have a clear understanding of what balance means to you

If you would like a more balanced life, without defining what that looks like, it will be rather difficult to achieve. The recipe for balance is different for everyone, depending on our own mix of responsibilities, relationships, hobbies and work. A good start to change this is to keep a journal of sorts. Write down what thoughts and feelings come up when you think about balance. Take a moment to visualize what your life would look like if that desired balance becomes a reality. This not only gives more clarity about your goals, but also provides a compass to strive toward!

2. Lack of self-discipline

Discipline is one of the best tools to regain control of your life. Without self-discipline, we often waste time, put things off or do nothing. This only makes us feel overwhelmed, guilty and totally out of balance. In my situation, I’ll take as an example answering apps and emails. I would actually like to turn off my notification in the evening. Yet I often don’t and find myself working all night again.

You want to do all sorts of things, but it always seems hard to follow through. Here are concrete steps to build self-discipline to feel more balanced:

Reduce Distractions: Identify the biggest distractors in your daily life, whether it’s your phone ☎️, social media or anything else. Try to reduce those distractions, especially during important tasks.

Set Priorities: What are the crucial tasks for today? Focus on completing those tasks before plunging into less important things.

Personal Boundaries: Learn to say “no” when necessary. Overcommitment can lead to stress and a sense of imbalance. Set clear boundaries for yourself!

Think about ways in which you may be lacking in self-discipline. How can you make changes in your life that help you get on with things you usually let slip?

3. You are not consistent in your actions

Do you recognize those moments when you feel like everything is going in all directions? Often the problem lies in a lack of consistency in your daily activities. Lack of consistency in our actions is one reason why your life does not feel the same everywhere.

In what areas of your life do you lack consistency? Try to create consistency in the way you take care of yourself, especially in terms of diet, exercise, sleep and relaxation. These areas have the greatest impact on your overall life balance. It’s all about small, achievable steps that fit your unique situation. In this way, you can set out to live a more balanced life, even in the midst of chaos!

4. You don’t plan ahead

If you forget to name the details of your schedule, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything you have to do. Planning is a way to make sure you can manage your affairs AND take care of yourself. While balance may seem like a matter of going with the flow, sometimes planning is the only way to get it done.
Create a basic outline of what your week will look like by scheduling appointments, projects to work on, social/relationship time and self-care. Planning these things in your calendar will make it easier to stay on top of things during the week. 💪

5. You are not taking good care of yourself

With everything you are doing (work, relationships, personal life, etc.), the most important thing is to make time for yourself. If you don’t take enough time in addition to your responsibilities to do the things that make you happy and joyful, balance will always seem out of reach. It is very easy to make up excuses not to do self-care, but 5 minutes is better than nothing! If you apply self-discipline, stay consistent and plan ahead, you will find that you can incorporate self-care into your schedule. By the way, this is 1 of the most common topics in my coaching practice!

What does balance look like to you?

I hope these tips have helped you find areas in your life where you can make positive changes. Start by defining balance in your own terms and then work on self-discipline, consistency and organization. That way you will have more time for yourself and for what is important in your life!