Balance is a pretty hot topic in the health and fitness world, but we want to rebel against the idea that finding "balance" is the key to a healthy and happy life.
To balance something suggests that one thing is bad and one good so you have to balance each side. However, we believe a better approach is to ensure every minute of each day is good and instead of aiming for balance aim for "life harmony", especially when it comes to health and fitness.
Are you stuck in the life balancing trap?
There’s a few questions you can ask yourself to find out if you are stuck in trying to balance your lifestyle rather than live in a happy state of lifestyle harmony:
Do you label foods “good” or “bad”?
Do you strictly restrict certain foods in the week?
Do you reward yourself with “bad” foods during the weekend?
Do you feel guilty when you eat anything you’d consider as “bad”?
Do you over-compensate “bad foods” with excessive exercise?
Do you drag yourself to the gym or see it as a punishment?
If you’ve answered yes to 3 or more of these questions then it’s likely that you’re struggling to find your harmony. Don’t worry though - we’ve got 4 easy tips for how to help you find your life harmony and take steps to lead a healthier and happier life.
Change Your Mindset
Exercise shouldn't be viewed as a "drain" on your time. Instead view it as a recharge so you have more energy and can be more productive at work or can play with your kids longer. Take for example your phone or laptop, when its low on battery it's slow and each task takes longer, but when you charge it, it becomes faster and more effective. You work in the same way and exercise is your charge time, it shouldn't compete with your other tasks, it is the charge up point for you to nail them!
Do What You Love
Stop viewing exercise and healthy foods as a punishment and start finding and doing the stuff that you enjoy! If you see your ability to exercise and access to great foods as a gift and find the stuff your enjoy, you’re more likely to crave it, hunt it out and ultimately, sustain it. When it comes to exercise there’s a whole world of opportunities waiting to be explored. If you’re a person who has struggled to stick to a routine before then consider a flexible fitness membership where you could choose from a range of activities such as yoga, swimming, climbing, exercise classes, belly dancing, and Zumba classes – the choice is endless!
Get Some Perspective
Just like one healthy meal will not make you instantly lose weight, one unhealthy one isn’t going to make you gain it either. Don't force yourself to stick to a routine you don't enjoy and punish yourself if you mess it up - this attitude will be completely unsustainable. Whats the point in 'being good' for a few months of the year then not caring the other 9 months! Find the routines and foods you genuinely enjoy and be food aware not restrictive. Don't stress about enjoying a pizza every now and again, just be aware that it's not what you want to eat everyday! Similarly, if you’re having a busy day and realise you don’t have a full hour to dedicate to exercise then that doesn’t mean you have to forego any plans of working out altogether. Even the shortest of workouts can carry great benefits and there are loads of super short workout ideas available on the internet to help you get some inspiration!
Know What Harmony Means To You
Probably the most important point is to stop viewing the world as good and bad and trying to find a balance. Instead focus on what you enjoy and finding life harmony. Harmony can mean very different things to different people; for one person it might mean being active at least once a day, but to some it could be making time to workout 3 times a week. It also could be the understanding that eating “healthy” doesn’t have to mean endless chicken and broccoli if you can’t stand the stuff. The key is to educate yourself on what is out there, hunt out the good things that you enjoy and focus on the feeling of accomplishment and happiness they give you every day.
