How do you get LIFE to balance?

ep_euphoria

Everything just seems to be a trade off, and something always gets left behind.
I'm a student at the moment and will be for the next 4 years at least and I have no idea how I'm going to cope as the workload gets heavier, or when I actually have a full-time job and want to keep this healthy and happy thing going.

I hate having to choose between an hour studying or an hour doing exercise, I hate that it takes so long to shop and cook and think about what I'm eating. I love it, I love cooking - I spend way too much time online looking at recipes - but the cooking and the cleaning of the kitchen and stocking the fridge. Ugh. Oh gosh... and the cleaning... that's what's getting super left behind at the moment. The place is freaking disgusting, and I know I should keep up to date - but after coming home, doing a workout and having dinner... I want bed!

I wish I could actually stock my fridge and my pantry, money seems to come in waves and it's always just a few steps behind. We need a new fridge, with a freezer that works, but that's not happening anytime soon.

I have no social life these days either, I'm at home with the boyfriend, or I'm at work or I'm at uni. Tah-dah. I don't even see family much. My mum suffered 3rd degree burns to 17% of her body a couple of months ago and I saw her a lot when she was in hospital, but now she's at home she's just too far away. It's a 45 min drive to her place, but I haven't got my licence. An hour and a half driving + time spent there is just too much at the moment - I have exams in a couple of weeks and I'm so underprepared right now it's scary.

I know it's my fault for letting it all creep up, but I wish I could just close my eyes and have it all drift away for a little while. Or a clock that paused time. That would be awesome.

MB_Positif

I am still working on balance, but what I do know is that once the eating and exercise portion becomes second nature the other things will fall into place. As silly as it sounds sometimes I do things like just clean the bathroom sink before I head off to work. It's like if I can squeeze in little bits of cleaning here and there things don't get so crazy. That said, one of my best friends once told me (regarding motherhood, but it can be applied to life in general), "You'll never look back on your life and say, I wish I spent more time cleaning." So, while it is important to keep your house clean, don't beat yourself up if the dishes go a day or two. There are worse things. Balance comes when all of this becomes your lifestyle, not something you have to do Keep up the great work!

Rikki444

I've got two words for you... hopefully it is this simple but it worked for me during a busy-hectic season of my life.... ready for this?...

PLaN AhEaD

There will be a lot of planning and then you need to execute... tenaciously.... but it can be done... you can have it all. =D

EDesq

Everything just seems to be a trade off, and something always gets left behind.
I'm a student at the moment and will be for the next 4 years at least and I have no idea how I'm going to cope as the workload gets heavier, or when I actually have a full-time job and want to keep this healthy and happy thing going.

I hate having to choose between an hour studying or an hour doing exercise, I hate that it takes so long to shop and cook and think about what I'm eating. I love it, I love cooking - I spend way too much time online looking at recipes - but the cooking and the cleaning of the kitchen and stocking the fridge. Ugh. Oh gosh... and the cleaning... that's what's getting super left behind at the moment. The place is freaking disgusting, and I know I should keep up to date - but after coming home, doing a workout and having dinner... I want bed!

I wish I could actually stock my fridge and my pantry, money seems to come in waves and it's always just a few steps behind. We need a new fridge, with a freezer that works, but that's not happening anytime soon.

I have no social life these days either, I'm at home with the boyfriend, or I'm at work or I'm at uni. Tah-dah. I don't even see family much. My mum suffered 3rd degree burns to 17% of her body a couple of months ago and I saw her a lot when she was in hospital, but now she's at home she's just too far away. It's a 45 min drive to her place, but I haven't got my licence. An hour and a half driving + time spent there is just too much at the moment - I have exams in a couple of weeks and I'm so underprepared right now it's scary.

I know it's my fault for letting it all creep up, but I wish I could just close my eyes and have it all drift away for a little while. Or a clock that paused time. That would be awesome.

That IS LIFE, most of the time. It's about Organizing the competing interests. What is Important vs. Urgent ... I suggest buying, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The first time I just read it because it was an academic exercise; then when I was in the working world and Life seemed a hustle and grind I revisited it and actually DID what he asked at the end of each chapter. It also took Me over a year to develop My Values...It IS a LIFE changer; Covey is NOT a motivational speaker, he gives you TOOLS that will change your life for the better.