Balance Between Rest + Hustle

We all know life gets busy and it can be hard to find balance with our work, family, relationships and wellness. When we are mentally and physically drained we often slip into survival mode (eat, sleep, work repeat) and skip stuff that adds joy to our lives. The tricky part is juggling your time, energy, and attention between them all without burning out.

The most important thing is figuring out what makes you feel balanced and only you can be the judge of that.

It’s perfectly natural to feel a little crazy when you have to balance so many things at once, it's not easy, and it doesn’t always go as planned.

We all understand that rest is crucial, I rave about it all the time. It can transform your health and business, and there’s even more at stake when there is none. Learning to recognize the signs of stress, burnout, and sleep deprivation can be the difference between a successful venture and a failed business.

However, you shouldn't be avoiding hustle at all costs. The best thing you can do for yourself is to discover your natural hustle and rest rhythm and use it to your advantage.

So how and where do we find that balance? How do we know when to push through and make things happen, and when to walk away and make time for rest?

Here are 3 simple things to keep an eye on, that can help you find balance with a busy schedule.

EMBRACE THE GRIND

We know that chronic stress can lead to chronic conditions. We develop anxiety and depression due to lack of quality sleep, altered gut health, and unbalanced hormones. But not all stress is bad and evil. Those jitters you feel just before you speak to a crowd may actually help improve your performance. The pressure to complete a massive project in time for a deadline can hone your sense of creativity and productivity. The purpose of short term stress is to heighten our senses and give us boosts of energy designed originally to keep us alive in the wild. It's when stress becomes a way of life, however, it turns from a temporary boost to something sinister.

So how do you know when it’s time to relax and when to get things done? How do you know when it’s time to walk away and take care of yourself?

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR EMOTIONS

Remember that frustrating feeling where you are between getting angry, crying, giving up and ready to throw stuff around? Is your response to this situation to bite your tongue, push through and suppress these feelings? Does it work? Or is it more like the work ends up taking twice as long, the results are often poor quality, and it leaves you in a very grouchy mood?

Lets accepted and realize that these are emotional responses – sadness mixed with self doubt, frustration with a touch of aggression, and good ol’ fashioned anger. This is your body’s way of telling you it’s time for a break.

This absolutely does not mean that you need to quit, but it is a wake up call to step back from that very situation, to understand that taking time to rest or even just a simple deep breath can actually be a productive strategy. The results will start speaking for themselves; you will start getting more done and arguably less cranky.

The more you ignore the needs of your body and mind to rest, the less likely you are able to accomplish your goals.

RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU ARE PRODUCTIVE

Unfortunately, productivity isn’t as easy as just plugging in, we can experience energy and creativity peaks and valleys throughout our days. And once you reach your limit, you won’t get any more done, you’ll only be more stressed.

Take advantage of your body’s natural stress boost to spur productivity and innovation; set boundaries and keep track of time. Pay attention on how you use your time, your energy and motivation, and just stop 'multi-tasking'. Tackle less complex tasks when you are not as focused and engaged. Our day is driven by cycles that affect how alert and productive we are, the more aware you are of this, the easier it will be for you to notice your natural rhythms.

“Balance” doesn’t mean you kill your passion and goals for rest. There will be times when you’re in the flow, and you stay up late to finish a project. This is not unhealthy.

Remember that being busy isn’t a badge of honor, and it’s important to stay present and being aware with how you feel; mind and body. Once you’ve mastered this, balance won’t feel so far off after all.

How do you balance the pull of hustle with the need for rest? Is it a daily struggle or do you have techniques that are working for you? Let me know in the comments or come chat with me on Instagram.

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