Keeping Your Balance

It’s hard to keep your balance sometimes.  It’s hard to keep from falling.  And when you sense you are about to lose your balance, it’s OK to sit down.  Really.

Sometimes the secret to keeping your balance is rest.  Take a moment.  Sit. Compose yourself.  Before you know it, you’ll be back up on that balance beam of life teetering along.

So, how do you “sit”?

Take a nap.
Treat yourself to something – especially time – like a bubble bath.
Breathe – deep.
Take a nice long walk.
Say no.
Plan your days.
Do the most important things first. (The rest usually figures itself out.)
Have a really healthy snack.
Did I mention taking a nap?

This time of year it’s so easy to get out of balance.  We try to do and spend too much and run around acting a little nutty.  Clean, decorate, visit, shop, wrap, bake, party, party, shop, party, eat, eat, eat.

And then comes January when we try to make up for this lack of balance with another lack of balance.  Diet, diet, exercise, diet, returns, organize, purge, clean, diet….

The secret is really in pacing yourself.  I read about someone recently – Cheryl Richardson, I think – who decided to forego the Christmas gift thing altogether in favor of giving and spending time with friends and family throughout the year instead of just at Christmas.  What a concept!  Instead, she kept a few special traditions and kept those simple and fun.

This year, balance is easier for me because I’m unemployed.  I have time on my side and a lack of finances forces me to be creative and keep it simple.

One of these years, I’ll really keep it to the level of simplicity I dream about.  No gifts for me.  Donate to a food pantry or other charity in my name.  And I’ll do the same.  No need to bust your head, schedule, or budget trying to buy gifts, but rather, give to those who genuinely need it.  Most of my friends would get it.  And a lot of my family too.  Once again, it’s too late for this year, but next year, watch out!

Now, go take a nap or something!  It’s good for you!