Balanced Life Chart

Image by Kim Carney

Reproduced with permission

Balanced Life: Myth or Possibility?

Tracking what you're doing on a daily basis can help you realize what is missing in your life.

The latest issue of my newsletter, entitled "Get a Life! A Chart for Living a Balanced Life(Even if You're an Academic)" just came out on Wednesday. In it, I wrote about the fact that academics feel that they're never good enough and that there's always someone better than them. Both of these factors, among others, lead to a guilt-caused imbalance in their lives. You can find the PDF of the Balanced Life Chart here:

Balanced Life Chart

You are Worthy, so Reward Yourself

One way to motivate you to take some time for yourself is for you to notice what you are accomplishing on a daily basis.

If you realize how much you're accomplishing, then you will feel that you deserve to take time to savor a cup of tea, to schedule a lunch or squash game with friends, or to read a book for pleasure!

So, reward yourself in a way that is meaningful to you. It doesn't have to be food, you don't have to buy anything. Your own reward may be spending time with the kids, or it may be hiring a babysitter so you can sit in the park. Small rewards that are meaningful, even symbolic -- it could be something like lighting a candle, meditating or taking a short walk, all help you feel better about yourself and your life.

I created (along with the help of one of my brilliant clients), a Reward Chart. I'm providing a download of the Balanced Life Chart in a Word Doc format, so that you can modify it as you need. You can download it here.

Reward Chart

Feel free to change the categories, delete categories, change the size and shape, etc. The idea is to give yourself credit for the things you do already, and then REWARD YOURSELF FOR NUMBER OF MINUTES SPENT WRITING DAILY. Sorry for shouting. Do not reward yourself for accomplishing something like finishing a chapter. Reward yourself for EFFORT!

Comments

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