You’d think being a gymnast I’d have the concept of balance all worked out by now, goodness knows I’ve been doing it for 35 years!!! (I know calling myself a gymnast it’s a bit of a stretch but just go with me here).

I can boast that have mastered tree pose and many other one legged yoga contortions in recent years; I regularly balance precariously on my tip toes in my cellar stairwell while attempting to grab my coat which is hung on hooks ever so slightly out of reach for my 5’ 2” self; and I have been known to walk on my hands for longer than most 42 year old women would even dream of. So how is it that while I appear to have balance all worked out in many areas of my life, that this fundamental life skill (which I also profess to teach well to lots of children) is way out of kilter as far as my work-life balance goes? So much so that it’s become more of a work, work, oops there goes another weekend, juggle!!!

It’s not just me, I know lots of people who are in the same boat. We are all so busy trying to fit a million and one things into everyday that we barely get time to come up for air. But just lately it’s seems to be busier than ever and something, somewhere is going to have to give!

Every day, regardless of weekdays or weekends, the alarm goes off at 6.13, 6.15 and 6.17 (I’ve got an odd number thing going on). I have barely opened my eyes and I’m checking my phone for overnight activity. (The downside to having a business on the opposite side of the world is that lots goes on while I’m sleeping, but at least I’ve stopped checking through the night). I check my business notifications on Facebook and Instagram, quickly catchup on what’s going on in everyone else’s world and then I open up my emails (all 5 accounts)…and so it begins!

By 6.55 I realise that I have yet again failed to get out of bed in time to do everything that I need to, to be able to leave the house at 8.23 to get Patrick to the child minder and myself to work, and that’s if I don’t have a clothing or hair ‘moment/melt down’ in which case we’re completely stuffed!!

The rest of the day doesn’t get much less frantic and when I arrive home at 8.30 in the evening, I shove a ‘balanced for you’ meal in the Microwave (at least I’m trying) and not long after scoffing it down, while answering messages I haven’t get to earlier or shouting to Patrick to get out of the shower he has been in for the last 20 minutes, I’m crawling back into bed. It’s usually about then that I remember that one email I didn’t reply to earlier and I quickly switch the lap top back on, and before I know it it’s midnight!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do and all things considered I have a great life but when you constantly feel like the rev counter is maxed out trying to keep up with everything, and your brain is so wired that you feel like you’ve had ten coffees instead of just one, sometimes it all gets a little too much…and that’s without mentioning the guilt!

When I reflect back on my life, I realise that apart from short periods of transition to something new, I’ve always operated this way. If I’m completely honest, I actually like being super busy and I’d probably bored if I wasn’t. I go a hundred miles an hour until I hit a metaphorical wall which forces me to come to a grinding halt usually with copious amounts of tears and then I slowly build back up the revs until it’s once again full speed ahead. And most of the time I’m happy to exist in this constant state of go, go, go, work, work, work but just recently I’m left wondering, where is the balance? Maybe I’m getting old?! Or maybe I just need to adjust the way I do things a little.

Where are the cuddles on the sofa when there’s nothing to do and nowhere to be? Where’s the time to soak in a bubble bath to relax and unwind until your fingers and toes get wrinkly? Where’s the time to watch every episode of that series that looks really good on TV? Where’s the time to pick up the phone, call a friend and chat for hours, instead of texting to say hi, how you doing?’…where’s the time to be the good mum, the big sister, the helpful daughter, the best friend and loving partner I so desperately want to be, yet feel like I’m failing miserably at?!

I don’t think I have the answers really, either for myself or for anyone else who finds themselves in the same boat. And the reality is that we all need to work, and that life by its very nature these days is busy!! But by making a conscious effort to live in the moment instead of always looking at what’s next, it might seem a little less frantic.

So I’m going to really try to enjoy the little things that bring me joy among the chaos like the morning cuddles Patrick asks for before he gets up everyday; like asking the important questions when he comes out of school and really listening to the answers; enjoying every moment of the weekend time we spend together; putting my phone away when I get the rare chance to meet a friend or my mum for coffee or lunch; not just saying ‘let’s catch up’ to friends but actually doing it; saying ‘yes’ more and making time to doing things I actually love to do, and consciously be in contact more with the people who mean a lot to me.

Life is short and while I’m not going to promise myself that I’ll slow down of do any less anytime soon, I’m going to make sure that I really enjoy the bits I can and say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to more of the things that will help be get my balance back.

“Plan strategically for a very fulfilling future, but don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful sight of this precious moment.”

#bringbackthebalance

Love Georgie 💕