Too often, people pursue success so fervently that they sacrifice a balanced life. It can happen before you know it. You focus so much time and attention on developing a thriving business or career and one day you realize that you don’t really have a healthy, thriving life outside of the company. That kind of imbalance can take a heavy toll on your health and relationships.
If you really want to be successful in all areas of your life, then you need to take time to ensure there is a healthy balance between the work you do and the life you live. For every person, there are four key life segments that need to remain in balance if you want to be successful and to actually enjoy your life outside of your career.
Many professionals and entrepreneurs spend so much time focusing solely on getting to the top, becoming the most successful, and/or bringing in the biggest income. They tell themselves that once they have reached that peak, then they will have time to sit back and enjoy life. The problem with that is by the time they reach those goals, they have neglected all the other areas that matter and they are no longer balanced. This kind of imbalance causes the whole system to shut down.
Creating balance in all of the areas of your life ensures that things keep running smoothly, giving you a competitive edge over those who have tunnel-vision when it comes to success.
Four Key Life Segments to Keep in Balance
- Career and Business: It’s easy to convince yourself that you can put up with a lot at a mediocre job so that you can meet your financial goals. This can be a pretty heavy price to pay and soon leads to failure and burnout. We all need work that engages and challenges us, something that inspires us to keep going each day. As the saying goes, ‘Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.’
- Financial independence: One of the biggest burdens that many people face and fear is not having enough money for the things they need. Eliminating this worry by securing some financial independence is an important factor in creating the right balance for your life. If you are having to spend too much time at work just to get by, then it’s time to look at a new career path. You want to stop worrying about money, to know that you have enough. But if you are sacrificing time in other areas of your life, then it is not worth it.
- Personal health and fitness: Life spans have definitely increased from the 1900s. Then, many people did not see their 60th birthdays. Now, one of the most rapidly growing demographics are people who have celebrated their 80th birthday and beyond. This is thanks to people taking more interest in their personal health and wellbeing and the advancement of modern medicine. To help stay in balance, you need to take care of your health, both physical and mental. Get enough exercise in, eat right, and you will be amazed at how much better it will make you feel.
- Family and personal life: The relationships you build are an integral part of your wellbeing and maintaining a healthy balance. Each person in your life plays an important role in keeping you balanced and it comes from the way you treat each one of them. Focus on having quality relationships. Take time for your self to recharge. Spend time with the people who share your values and learn to worry less about what other people say makes you a success.