5 Ways to Achieve Balance in Your Life

Have you ever tried a yoga balance pose? Maybe you wobbled on one foot as your limbs got used to your new center of gravity. As you found your balance, you had moments feeling totally grounded and stable. And then you wobbled before finding your center again. Finding balance in life isn’t so different: You start with a conscious effort, establish your equilibrium and recover when life trips you up. The good news is that success boils down to a handful of practical time-management techniques. Here are five ways to achieve balance in your life.

1. Capture all your to-dos in one place. 

Scattering your to-dos and appointments among a variety of systems is a recipe for confusion and worry about what you might be forgetting. Decide on a single, consistent planning system (paper or electronic) and use it to record 100 percent of your calls, appointments and to-dos. This gives you a complete picture of everything on your plate and allows you to prioritize in context.

2. Schedule a time to do crucial tasks. 

A to-do not connected to a “when” simply doesn’t get done. Schedule tasks into your planner on the specific day you intend to do them. Add a time estimate next to each item to make sure you are planning your days realistically—and not allowing one department of your life to monopolize your time at the expense of others.

3. Use the 4 D’s to lighten your load.

Balance requires that you make the best use of your time. Proactively streamline your workload (at work and at home) by applying the 4 D’s: Delete (discard tasks), Delay (reschedule for a more appropriate time), Diminish (create a shortcut) and Delegate (give to someone who can do it better, faster or at least good enough).

4. Group similar tasks.

Batching tasks boosts efficiency, and minimizes the time and energy lost when constantly switching gears. Group to-dos separate from calls, and separate work tasks from personal ones. Identify the core activities that require your time (e.g.,  client service, strategic planning, sales, administration), and create a time map that designates regular time for each of those roles—and you’ll find that you will get significantly more done, in less time, at a much higher quality of output.

5. Plan tomorrow—plus 2—at the end of each day.

People who plan their day find that time stretches—they get much more done, feel less stressed and avoid getting caught up in unnecessary crises. Close out each day by spending 15 minutes reviewing what you completed and planning your schedule for tomorrow plus two days beyond that. A three-day arc gives you the necessary perspective to adjust your balance as needed and mentally prepare for the upcoming days.