The first is the “Jack theory.” All work and no play makes for a cranky Jack. All this and no that, too much of this and too little of that, just doesn’t work. The challenge here is to balance what we must do with what we enjoy and want to do. We need to carve out time for the serious stuff as well as play.

The other way to live a balanced life has more to do with going with the flow; not letting the inevitable glitch in our day throw us off-balance, sending us careening off course. It’s about staying balanced.

In other words, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. No matter how carefully a project is planned, something may still ‘go wrong’ with it. When lucky, we experience a minor glitch; a glitch so small and short-lived that you hardly notice it – a transient fault that corrects itself.

However, there are the times when a hornet’s nest of difficulties presents itself, and you need to change course, immediately, lest you get knocked off your tush!

Here follows eight guidelines on how you can ‘root’ yourself in balance, enabling you to smile and stay steady the course, even in the face of the inevitable hiccup, glitch or major league malfunction.

8 Tips For A Well Balanced Life
… go with the flow, baby, lest it knocks you off-balance

1. Take Care of YOU. I promise you that your health is the key ingredient to ALL! They don’t say, “If you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything” for nothing! It’s the truth. You simply cannot function in high gear, if you don’t get the right amount of rest, exercise or good, healthy eats (a.k.a. real food vs. processed ’stuff’). At some point, ‘it’ will catch up with you.

2. Set Priorities. Leading your ‘best life’ does not mean that you need to be or should try to be perfect and do all. It means that you self-reflect, known thyself, determine your true values. Not knowing who you are and what you want and trying to do everything is a recipe for burnout and disaster. Do not bite off more than you can chew!

3. Plan Pretty. No, planning is not a dirty word, although you might think it is based on the response I sometimes get when I stress the importance of planning. Do not stamp your feet, like a 3 year old and say, “I don’t like to plan.” Keeping an organized calendar and planner, tracking your appointments and food, your (a.k.a. movement for the exercise phobic), leads to freedom.

When you plan, you essentially dump your thoughts onto the page, organize them so they do not overwhelm you, which leads to a productive, relaxed kind of day. Instead of cringing at the thought of ‘planning,’ embrace it. Once again, planning presents a clear path out of the state of ‘overwhelm’ and into a state of ‘freedom.’

4. Stuff Happens; Expect the Unexpected. Have you ever had a day when something unexpected didn’t happen? An unexpected phone call, unexpected traffic jam, a platter of pretty cupcakes being paraded in front of you or maybe worse yet, a computer crash? Stuff happens my friends. Stuff happens big time. So expect the unexpected and just roll with it.

5. Wake Up Happy. Your first thoughts are the most powerful, the strongest and they can set a tone for the day. You can easily train yourself to begin each and every day with a positive thought.

Begin to pay attention to your waking thoughts. If they are not ‘happy’ or useful thought, change them. In the place between being asleep and fully awake, note your thoughts and change them if you have to, or if positive and useful, embrace them. “Today, I am going to get organized and ‘motor’ through the day with great, happy energy.” Vs. “Crapola, it’s Monday. Another day, another dollar.” Get my drift?

6. Stay Connected with Family and Friends. Another key ingredient to living a balanced life and staying ‘in balance’ is your connection to your friends and family. However busy you may be, be sure to reach out to at least one friend or family member daily. Preferably, in real time, either in person or via telephone; not electronically! There’s nothing like the real thing.

7. Be Spontaneous. On the one hand, I do believe that planning equals freedom, as mentioned above. On the other hand, let’s not get so rigid that we lose the ability to be spontaneous. If you suddenly have the urge to go for a long walk, go to a movie, hook up with a friend at lunchtime, feed the hummingbirds … do so!

8. Breathe Deep and Unwind. At the end of your glorious day, take a minute or two or thirty to unwind. Curl up with a good book, take a hot bath, listen to music that soothes or stirs your soul. Do nothing. Take in a few deep, cleansing breaths, congratulate on a day well-lived and just plain relax.

What is the one most important thing that you do to help you stay balanced, enabling you to go with the flow? Weigh-in below!

Spread the word … NOT the icing,

Janice Taylor
wise * fun * utterly useful

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1. Sleep helps the brain commit new information into memory; therefore lack of sleep can impair learning and memory.

2. Chronic sleep deprivation affects the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and alters the levels of hormones that affect our appetite: leptin (an appetite regulating hormone), and higher levels of ghrelin (a hormone produced by the stomach that sends the ‘I’m hungry, feel me’ signal to the brain.) (leptin and ghrelin)

3. Those who are sleep deprived are more likely to be irritable, cranky, impatient, and are all in all moodier than those who sleep!

4. Sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone level and irregular heartbeats.

Now that we know how important it is to get the proper amount of sleep, here 25 tips that can help you to get a good night’s rest!

25 Fully Baked Tips to Better Sleep

1. Relieve Stress Daily. People who are stressed-out are more likely to suffer from insomnia. It’s important to explore various types of exercise, meditation, and/ or yoga so that you find the one that best helps you to relax. Have fun exploring.

2. Exercise. Follow a consistent exercise (or movement) program. It will increase your energy levels during the day, improve your mood and help to regulate your sleeping patterns at night. Remember – even 10 minutes here and there throughout the day adds up to a restful night’s sleep.

3. Exercise in the morning or afternoon. For many, working out within 3 or 4 hours of sleep can make it harder to fall asleep.

4. Light snacks. Eating a heavy meal too close to bedtime can interfere with sleep. Instead, if you are hungry, have a light snack but avoid protein-rich and caffeine containing foods and beverages.

5. Stop eating all together at least 3 hours before sleep. This will prevent heartburn, indigestion and energy boosts from the food. A good weight loss rule anyway. You’ve got to stop at some point, no?

6. Natural Root. Valerian root and Melatonin seem to be the most effective supplemental sleep aids. ALWAYS discuss dosage, risk and effectiveness with your doctor before taking.

7. Aromatherapy. Lavender and chamomile scents can be soothing and relaxing. Perhaps in spray form, or scented candle. Also, vanilla ‘kills’ appetite.

8. Eat at regular intervals during the day. This will keep your blood sugar levels even, thus keeping you alert all day and ready to sleep at night. And bonus, it will keep your ‘hunger’ in check, so that you don’t go off the deep end, into that vat of chocolate that’s calling your name!

9. Write it out. Before bed write down all your thoughts in a journal without judgment. Stream of consciousness. Let it rip and roll. It will help clear your mind, as you can close the book on the day. It works!

10. Turn off the lights. It can be difficult to sleep with the lights on. You might even want to wear a sleep mask (I have a leopard one!). Be sure to close the blinds, shades, drapes!

11. Sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends. Your body will get into its automatic rhythm.

12. Put the clock where you cannot see it. Clock watching can create anxiety.

13. For a light late night snack, try dairy products. Milk contains the sleep inducing amino acid, tryptophan. (Go organic, please! So that the milk is coming from a healthy cow … Eat Healthy: Be Political!)

14. Avoid tobacco. Tobacco products contain nicotine, a stimulant. You shouldn’t be smoking anyway (sorry, but for goodness sake!).

15. Don’t oversleep. Too much of a good thing can actually make you more tired.

16. Think positive. People who focus on the positive tend to sleep better and experience better health in general. Remember: thoughts are like the clouds; they float in and out – you don’t have to attach to them!

17. Do not hit the snooze button. Simply get up. Get up! GET UP!

18. Plan for a healthy 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Set your mind as you climb into your comfy bed.

19. Nap wisely. No more than 20 minutes. But do nap if you can!

20. Limit caffeine during the day. Try for less than 1-2 cups of caffeinated beverages during the day.

21. Schedule some down time every day. Stretch, take a hot bath, read. Stare into space!

22. Add white noise and/or wear ear plugs. Most people can’t fall asleep when things are too loud. Sometimes even the crickets are screaming.

23. Drink in moderation. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it will likely wake you in the middle of the night.

24. Rule out medications. If you are taking medication, ask your doctor about its side effects.

25. Check the thermostat. If it’s too hot or too cold, it may be difficult to fall asleep. That’s for sure!!!

Good night!