Metaphorically speaking sport and life have a silly amount of similarities.
Take such as standup board paddling. This water sport is reliant on technique, composure and balance. If one part of the body is incorrectly weighted or there is too strong a focus on a particular aspect of the technique – balance is tested, waves may appear unknowingly and before you know it…plop.
Losing balance and falling in has many positives that can relate to everyday life balance … If work is all-consuming, our relationships and health suffer. If we’re obsessing over body image/weight then other life issues pass us by. Although there is no such thing as a perfect life balance, there is a unique pattern of how to find equilibrium within us.
To help take stock of your own wellness picture, I’m sharing a tool that accompanies my Nutrition and Health Coaching client assessments. I developed this Current of Wellbeing activity to represent 14 life aspects that I feel are the most common issues we face. Of course, life is ever-evolving and changing year to year, day-to-day. That’s why this activity is a great way to remind ourselves what areas may need attention – before the cracks seem too overwhelming.
How is Life Balance Connected and Does it Matter?
The Current of Wellbeing [Click picture to download]
How well does your life current flow?
Let’s get started! Each graphic represents an aspect of life. Feel free to rename or add categories. If you feel you’re doing swimmingly, then place yourself out of the current and circle around level 10, if you are resisting the tide then mark as a lower number towards the whirlpool. Once all categories are marked, join the dots. This is your current well-being.
Are you swimming beautifully or against the tide?
With each section you feel needs improvement, it’s worthwhile answering questions to help you move forward.
- On a scale of 1-10, how motivated are you to change or develop this aspect of your life?
- What’s one small improvement or action can you take this week to either find out more about changing this area to make a small behavioural change?
- What obstacles are you up against? challenges?
- What strategies do you have to overcome the hurdles? What sources of support and accountability can you call on for help?
For example, likely questions to ask
NUTRITION
- Describe any challenges that you currently face.
- What level of health do you want to experience 5 years from now?
- What small changes can you make as soon as your next meal?
- Are you organised to prepare healthy meals?
JOB SATISFACTION/ FINANCES
- How fulfilling is that your career?
- Is it a good fit for your long-term goals?
- Describe any stresses that you may experience around money.
- What is your relationship like with money?
RELATIONSHIPS/ SUPPORT
- Quality + quantity. Do you have enough?
- Are you satisfied with family support?
- Have you created new friendships in the past 2 years?
- On a scale of 1-10, how motivated are you to change?
MINDSET
- Do you invest enough time around your own personal growth and development?
- Are you at peace with these aspects of your life?
- Is there guilt present and what undermines these thoughts?
FITNESS
- Are you working out consistently?
- Are you doing the right type of exercise to match your goals?
- What is going to help you feel excited about working out?
- Are there any roadblocks currently stopping you from working out? What can you start to help overcome these?
Anyway, you get the gist, right??
Balancing life is a first world problem, even the concept of seeking it out is a privilege that is not available to all. It is something we take for granted but also at the same time tend to abuse. Sometimes all we need is a little reminder to take heed, pull up stumps and realign our goals. Going around on the hamster wheel each day, repeating the same action is going to bring the same result. If you feel a change is needed, allow yourself to bathe in your thoughts. Think of better ways with more desirable outcomes. This is the first step in moving forward.
