Comments on: How do you find balance?

By: FatGirlWalking

FatGirlWalking — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:40:40 +0000

Roni – I really appreciated your post. It is so easy to get overwhelmed and feel alone. We sometimes take so much on our shoulders and get by for so long that we feel like a failure when we have to lay things down. Everyone’s comments were wonderful and I appreciate them all.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:03:25 +0000

Roni – I feel your pain. Maybe it’s all the extra exercise? Doctors say for every mile you run, you should sleep that many extra minutes per night. I’ve been running 30 mile weeks, so technically I should find an extra 30 minutes to sleep each night! Ha! I can hardly from time to run, let alone recover from the runs!!!

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:49:54 +0000

I drop stuff. Drop things I think I should do. Drop things I think I have to do. I’ve decided to live my life as intentionally as possible and that means eliminating some stuff to be able to really live life. I stopped my home based business (sewing and selling clothing for cloth diapered babes). It was really hindering my ability to enjoy my family, clean my house, etc. I’m not good with setting limits and decided to just all-out drop it from my life. I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:16:17 +0000

Balance is such a real issue… when my universe is off balance, it’s an extreme struggle. I came out of a funk last night, when I went to bed at 7:30p exhausted… and not doing my dinner dishes. Got a glimmer of light around 8:30p, while emailing some friends. I got my butt out of bed, made my coffee for this morning and did all my dishes. Started today with a new attitude and renewed energy. It’s awareness though… Pay attention to who you are and don’t dismiss how you feel. Thanks everyone!

By: Me

Me — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:44:56 +0000

I would rather do a few things well than alot of things half-a$$ed…..
That’s what I had to start saying to myself.
Now – I take care of the PEOPLE things first. Phone calls to friends and family, taking care of my son, taking care of ME.
Then I take care of work – it pays the bills
Then my house.
I used to wonder how women could live in houses that were not tip top shape (silly me) and then I had a child, and a career and got divorced….
now I know Clean is good. Spic and span is not an option!
I also had to take a poll of who would suffer if I dropped some things off the schedule…..you have a lot of balls in the air professionally…..take from the ‘this would hurt the least people’ pile first.
and then…make a gratitude list.
When I am overwhelmed, I make a gratitude list because I know, no matter WHAT, I have a good life. Oh yeah – I have it REAL good!

By: debby

debby — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:34:56 +0000

Roni, you already have more advice than you need. But your own statement ‘I can’t help it. It’s just who I am.’ really stood out to me, because I know it is not something you believe or know to be true for yourself. You can change. And sometimes simplifying your life means eliminating some very good things.

By: Blake

Blake — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:18:33 +0000

I try to find balance by better planning. I don’t have any kids yet, but will in a few weeks, so I’m sure that will change things :) I just plan when I will get in my workouts and when I’m going to do certain things during the day. Luckily I work from home so I can prioritze and get things done as they come up.

I love your blog and I’m glad I found it! Keep working hard!

By: pam

pam — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:11:24 +0000

FUNNY that my friend and I were just talking about this same thing last night! We were talking about us and our lives of running, etc….but also how our kids can’t focus.

EXAMPLE:*** Imagine teen doing research homework on computer…… they are busy reasearching for a few seconds when the msn pops up….then they stop answer their friend….back to the research when their friend pops up again just in time to ….check the text message that just beeped from your friend……back to research….. This is their lives….much like ours.

ADVISE: Un plug. Don’t let distractions kill progress of what you really need to focus on. (priorities). Then, once accomplished plug back in. :)
I have a friend who, when confronted with a major project staring her in the eye.. will disappear and go do something completely trivial. Like organize her gift wrap. It is something that she can start and finish. It cracks me up.

Maybe start a small project so you can see results fast. Ex…..organizing your gift wrap. ha ha ha Unplug from everything else and just focus on the one thing. You are so motivated that sometimes progress doesn’t seem noticible until you step back and look at the point at which you started. You are doing great!!!

By: Valerie

Valerie — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:07:07 +0000

Everyone has such great advice. I love Berni’s advice that you are the master of your universe. I got some really great advice when my husband was deployed from my sister. I was trying to be all things to all people and I just couldn’t. I was crying to her on the phone one evening and she said, “When did you get promoted to Manager of the Universe?” I told her I didn’t and she said, “Then why are you trying to run everything?” I guess for me, it’s a bit of a control issue. I get to the point where one little thing out of place throws me. A sock on the floor and I’m in full meltdown mode.
I don’t typically watch Dr. Phil but he had an episode once about women who do it all. He said that we are like sponges. Eventually we will run dry without adding a little more water. Essentially, we need to take a little time for ourselves so that we may give more to others.
Granted, I think you just have too many meatballs on your plate and they are rolling off. You can’t do it all. Something has got to give.
Although, who am I to give advice when I am currently wearing my shoulders as earrings? (Feeling a little stress myself…) I’m going to go chase down the meatballs that fell off my plate now!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:42:41 +0000

I’m right there with ya hon…I try to do everything and end up not getting a portion of what I wanted to complete done. I’m juggling work, working on the house (which is almost nonexistant, but still needing upkeep), planning a wedding, struggling with getting birthdays, school, hobbies, training for an 8K, and keeping my sanity. Actually had a breakdown sob session last night, it was much needed, and I was thankful that my fiance was there to hold my hand through it. Too much on your plate is NOT a healthy thing!!! It causes stress, which causes to health problems, and interrupts sleep, causing more health problems, and then you get to a point where you don’t think you’ll ever be able to accomplish anything. Or maybe that’s just me…lol.

But keep your head up high, you’ll find a way to balance it all, everything happens for a reason. The main thing is that you keep yourself healthy throughout the process. If you have to say no to something, or schedule it another day, the world is NOT going to fall apart!!! Hugs, hon, and you’ll get through this.