Ever wonder how some people in our lives manage to do it all?  They are able to be a mother, a father, a daughter, a son, a coach, a mentor, a cook, a cleaner, a teacher, a listener, a writer, an artist and even with all of those roles, they are able to do it all with a smile on their face.

While some of us struggle to finish one or two things a day, others are able to do a lot in one day with no extra effort exerted and with no-stress.  So how do they do it and how can you do it too?

First, there is recognition that they are not only made up of a body and a mind.  They have come to a realization that they have to nourish their spirit or soul or heart (insert your notion of the spirit here) as well.  Once you come to a realization that you have to feed all these parts of you for you to become whole, you will be on the road to becoming effectively balanced. Just like your body will stop functioning if you don’t eat and drink for a long time, the other parts of you need nourishment to stay alive too.

If you have one day of something “going wrong” it is probably because something is missing – something did not get nourishment – something was neglected.  You’re probably wondering how can you possibly feed all of your parts in one day?  It is possible.  With a little re-arranging and prioritizing and willingness to look at the world differently, with a new pair of eyes, you too can do it by taking simple steps.

1. Make an intention before starting. Always check your motivations to see if what you are about to do arises from your spirit or your ego.  This can be a verbal statement or a silent statement within the context of your heart.  “I am going to work-out at the gym to have more energy to help those around me or to be more pleasing to my wife and/or to feel better about myself” vs “I am going to work-out at the gym so I can walk around arrogantly and make people jealous of me.”
2. Maximize time by slowing down (it’s not an oxymoron). The famous cliche, haste makes waste is definitely true.  Cut down on your multi-tasking and concentrate on one activity at a time.  When you drink your glass of water, look down at the cup, feel the water go down your throat.  Please don’t eat with one hand and read this blog at the same time.
   Your face and your eyes should look at what you are doing, giving it your whole attention.  By practicing this you will find your relationships with people and with things will rise to level of beauty and sacredness and you won’t be taking things for granted.
3. You are what you eat! Regulate your food and water intake.  Eat enough to get you by because overindulgence in anything is someone else’s share, be it in clothes, money or food.  If you think you have too much, you probably do and someone else could use it or eat it.
   If you are eating a meal of chips and pop everyday and are also wondering why you are depressed, well it matters what you eat, how much of it and from what source it comes from.  Try making small switches, white bread to whole wheat, a blended drink or herbal green tea in place of coffee, vanilla yoghurt with fruit instead of chips.
4. Know the Law of Give and Take - Being a giver is just as exhausting as being a taker, give things to people for an exchange of something.  We are raised to believe that we need to give to people, to help them, to always be ready to listen and as these are valuable and virtuous gifts, it can exhaust and drain you.  It is just as important to take once in a while, especially from those around you, to be truly balanced.
   Remember, this is about balance.If you give all the time, you are not really a hero.  It is harder to be able to give up a habit of giving to be able to live on the path of the middle.  If you give all the time, you are living on one part of the extreme and sooner or later, you will start to resent people that you often give to all the time.  Before the guilt or resentment or perhaps the expected thank you is not returned, take!
5. Be Flexible over things you can’t control -  Give up being frustrated with the weather, the traffic, the long line-ups and the nasty person behind the counter.  Instead, find ways to make those undesirable things work for you by finding ways to be contented while those things occur around you.  Be able to rise with the unexpected.
   Find a self-help CD that you like or play scripture in your car if you are religious, drive in silence, talk to yourself in a microphone and record your thoughts.  Start up a conversation with the person in the line-up ahead of you or behind you (my personal favorite) — they are probably as bored as you are.
   Invite them into your life for awhile, compliment them or ask them about the weather.  Smile at the nasty-person behind the counter.  I often make sure that I have the person laughing or smiling before they are about to serve me.  I always always say hello, make long eye contact and ask them how they are with a smile.  They almost always loosen up!
   And, their negative energy won’t be in your service which usually results in something being overpriced or you forget your cucumber at the store which results in more negative downward spirals.  When they are in a good mood, they usually will want to go out of their way to help you.  Try it.
6. Sleeping Patterns are Crucial - Sleep early, even if you are in your 20 somethings because sleeping at 1am or 2am is not cool anymore.  In the long run, your body won’t be able to do it.  Sleeping at 9 or 10 is crucial and waking up at (i know you’ll think I’m crazy) 4am is amazing and better for you.  There is an hour in the night that is so quiet and so peaceful that you can accomplish a lot of work.  Siestas are the right way to think!  When the sun is at its highest, you should not be working!
   If you have the luxury of working at home or at a place where you can nap, do it!  One hour will take you through the rest of the day without your afternoon crash for another “coffee” to keep you going, sound familiar?  You’re probably sleeping too late and waking up too early.  Sleep early and waking early will add energy and a strange sense of calmness to your day!
7. Seek Solitude and Silence - At least once in your day and for some if its in the car ride home, that’s okay, but I still suggest a quiet time (10 minutes at least) to sit and do NOTHING.  You’ll have to keep your eyes open for this – this isn’t the same as nap time.  Closing your eyes makes you sleep and that’s not what you need.  You are practicing awareness by doing nothing but letting your body relax.
   I challenge you to do this at the most busiest time of your day.It is hard, but making it a ritual is necessary for you to be balanced.  Sitting for 10 minutes when all the work is done is not as challenging as doing it when you need to unplug, now that’s a balanced person, to be able to unplug when YOU feel like it and not when others finally give you permission!
8. Don’t just be grateful, practice gratitude - Count them, count them, count them!  Make a list, make beads, notes to self, anything and look at it often.  You will feel instant peace and rest in your soul.
9. Prayer - Whether you are religious or not but prayer, everyday, all the time is important, whether you believe in God, a Higher Power, karma, Buddha, or are an atheist.  Send a prayer out everyday for your family, yourself, your partner, your wealth, your health.  Ask, ask, ask and know that God, the universe, the angels, yourself, someone in the universe is listening to you. 
   Send your prayer on the mysterious airwaves of the universe and you’ll be surprised on how you are answered.  What do you have to lose to send out a prayer everyday?  Sit down, hands raised or head bowed, in a letter or in your heart.  Sit, make an intention before you do anything, and ask.
   Pray from the seat of your heart and let yourself pour it out.  Pour it out everyday, if tears come with the asking, even better.  Someone once said that we are quiet and fragile at our core when we are alone, but with the world we are fierce and strong.  Allow yourself to be weak (in a good way, like letting down your guard) sometimes and feel the vulnerability of your heart’s song.  

An Invitation

What are some things you that help you find balance in your life?  Do you take a time-out?  Do you divide up your day?  Do you have a journal or an agenda where you plan?  Share with us your thoughts in the comments below.  

image credit: pshutterbug