Finding Balance

      Finding balance is something I feel like we all struggle with as human beings. You can eat chocolate, but don't eat too much of it. Sleep is important but not too much sleep. Remember to have fun in life, but don't have too much fun that you lose sight of your work. Do these sound familiar to you? It seems like everything in life can be summed up by its dichotomy.

      So how do we find balance? Good friggen question. I think that finding balance in life can be really hard and it's something I find difficult to do every single day. I once saw a quote on Pinterest (lol) that went something like "if you can't enjoy the ants then you don't deserve the butterflies". This quote probably means that you need to work hard, go through some shit, and then you can enjoy the benefits of your hard work later. But I also think that it means that without the ants, the butterflies can't exist and vice versa. You need a little good to accompany the bad things in your life and you need a little bad to accompany the good. This is exactly what balance is to me. Imagine if your life was amazing all the time. Now imagine if it was awful all the time. You need the one to appreciate the other; the ying to the yang. Life comes in waves of good and bad and if we aren't truly living in each good and each bad moment then we really aren't living a balanced life at all. To me a balanced life is realizing when you're in the good times, appreciating those times, and really feeling deep in your bones how happy you are. And when life turns to complete shit, acknowledging it, know that it's not forever, and understand that it's happening to you in that moment so that you can appreciate the moment you finally get out of it.

     So okay, that all sounds lovely but what how do we actually put these ideas into practice? I came up with a list of 10 things that I think we can all do to find more balance in our lives. You can practice any or all of these if you are having an amazing day or a total crap day. Up to you.

1. Laugh or smile for no reason. People might think your nuts but smile at the dog that walks by or laugh at the way your sandals sound on the pavement. Happiness is truly contagious and will always make you feel better.

2. Start fresh by giving your life a good cleaning. Organize your closet, take care of your finances and clean up your social media accounts.

3. Reach out to the people in your life. Set up a coffee date with a friend, go for a walk with your mom, invite your girl or boy friends over for a dinner party.

4. Treat yourself. Take a bubble bath, order a pizza, go for a long walk. Whatever it is that makes you feel pampered, do that.

5. Meditate. I know this one isn't for everyone but if you've never tried meditation I always recommend trying with a candle first. Light your favourite candle and watch the flame flicker as you count your breaths.

6. Say no to commitments, responsibilities, or even people that you just do not have the energy for. And don't feel guilty about it!

7. Put your to-do lists on hold for just one day. Get excited about having an entire day that is completely unplanned.

8. Put together a new playlist. Whether it's a list of old favourites or new songs from a friends Spotify, get lost in the music for awhile.

9. Turn off your phone and go technology free for a day or even for a weekend. Tune into nature and the people around you.

10. Spend an afternoon doing a hobby you once loved. Whether it's painting, knitting, or puzzling get lost in the art of using your hands.

      Whether balance is finding the right amount of chocolate to eat every day or laughing when life doesn't work out the way you want it to, just remember that this life we are living is one giant wave of ups and downs and balance is simply making the most of it and enjoying the ride.

How do you find balance in your life?

xo Sara