Balance is not BS

There's been a common theme over the past month with my coaching clients of self-care, taking care of yourself, and about finding balance in life.

In the whirlwind of our lives, it's often easy to overlook the importance of this as we immerse ourselves in the world of numbers, deadlines, and client needs.

You see, we're generally quite a nurturing bunch, us bookkeepers. But it's important to understand that we need to nurture ourselves as well.

We can't help others when we're depleted.

You've probably heard the phrase "You can't pour from an empty cup." 

You can't keep endlessly pouring and giving and giving and giving into other people's cups, without stopping to refill, overflow even, your own cup.

Understanding Balance

I've noticed a school of thought lately that balance is something of an elusive concept, especially when you're building a business.

I think it's often misinterpreted as dividing your time equally between all aspects of life.

But true balance isn't about equal parts; it's about equal weight. It's about how you feel.

Balance is not a one-size-fits-all concept. It's a dynamic equilibrium that takes into account the uniqueness of your life and your passions.

It's about ensuring that one aspect of your life doesn't carry an overwhelming weight while others are neglected. 

Achieving Balance:

As we step into the final quarter of 2023, keep in mind that finding balance is not just a desirable aspiration; it's an essential part of a fulfilling and successful life.

If balance is something that you feel a need to focus on, here are 5 tips for achieving balance in your life.

1. Prioritize Self-Care: Recognise that self-care is not selfish. It's an essential component of maintaining balance. Which activities rejuvenate you? Is it reading a book? Practicing mindfulness? Playing a sport or enjoying a hobby? How can you put more of this into your life?
2. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries in both your personal and professional life. Be clear about your work hours and ensure that personal time remains sacred. Boundaries protect your well-being.
3. Reflect and Assess: Make it a regular habit to evaluate how you're feeling about various aspects of your life. Are you dedicating enough time and energy to your health, relationships, and personal growth? If not, adjust your priorities, your schedule, your boundaries as needed.
4. Delegate: It goes without saying that building a business past your own capacity means that you will at some point be required to delegate workload to others. Maybe you can start with home help to free up your time and headspace to work in and on your business.
5. Seek support: A support system, whether that be work colleagues, a network of friends and family, or business mentors, is a valuable component of achieving balance. They will act as a sensible sounding board, believing in you and holding you accountable towards achieving the progress that you desire.  

We all have multi-faceted and often multi-passionate lives. Let's embrace that. It makes life interesting and fun.

Remember that balance doesn't mean neglecting your ambitions or passions; it's more about integrating them into your life in a way that feels harmonious. 

It's about achieving a sense of equilibrium that allows you to thrive in all aspects of your life.

You can be a dedicated and committed bookkeeper for your clients, and still nurture yourself. Because in nurturing yourself, you become even more effective in nurturing others.

Stephanie