Lily’s Inter(N)esting Observations: Balance Your Life

Hello everyone! Lily the Intern here! I’m back for some inter(N)esting Observations for you this week! 

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about balance. I have found that balance is hard to find in a world that feels like it’s always on the go! I have recently been feeling a lack of balance in my life as I juggle all that comes with being a student, an athlete, an intern, and everything in between. After talking to some of the people around me, I found that many people experience similar feelings in their day-to-day life. Well, I have decided enough is enough, and I have been working to get to the bottom of this lack-of-balance issue that so many of us struggle with.

After doing some research and implementing some of these tactics into my own life, I am ready to share some Inter(N)esting Observations that I have with you! This is, of course, coming from a college student's perspective.

The following is my 5-step process that took some reflection and trial and error, but I have seen a lot more balance and peace in my own life by implementing it every day. If this has helped me, it can maybe help you too!

For me, the first step to tackling my lack of balance issue was to really question what makes me feel balanced in the first place. 

I know what you are thinking, DUH! But this is actually a really important thing to think about, and this actually brings us to Step 1 when it comes to finding your balance! 

Hear me out, you guys. I sat down and I thought to myself, what are some things that I like to do, for me? What are things that make you feel a sense of peace that is not something that you feel obligated to do? Instead, what are things you LOVE to do - for you?

For me I love going to a new coffee shop and exploring a new town with an iced coffee. I love spending time with my family after being away at school and I love getting outside in nature. I specifically love the beach. I also love getting in bed and reading a new book or watching a movie at the end of the week with my roommates. I urge you to really find out what you truly love, and then once you have that, that leads us to step 2. 

For this next step, you need to find what makes you feel good physically. I found that sometimes I do workouts that I THINK I should like, but they are workouts that don't always make me feel my personal best. Listen, in my case, this one is a little bit different because I am a college athlete, so I can’t always choose my workouts, but generally in the off-season, I like to move my body in different ways rather than sticking to one strict regimen. There have been times when a lifting schedule is my preferred option, but sometimes doing yoga, pilates, going on walks, and things like that make me feel better when I know my body needs a rest. Listen to your body and move your body in any way that feels good to you- it doesn’t matter what it looks like, just make sure you’re moving and it makes YOU feel good! 

Relationships can be hard because every relationship is different and special in its own way, but for the purpose of this post, as we talk about balance, I want you to take a moment and think about the people who come to mind when you think of people who bring you peace and comfort, even in the midst of craziness. Now keep that person in mind for later! 

This one is something that I had never even considered before, and I kind of fell upon it on my own and thought it was a great thing to share because ever since I started doing it, it has really changed my day-to-day life! 

Every day we are all set with certain tasks to complete, whether this be laundry, cleaning the kitchen, finding clothes in our closet to donate- whatever this might look like for you, hear me out. Try pairing it with something to feed your mind. Imagine this: The chores that you usually do with the only thought in your mind being “I can't wait for this to be over” are now met with a podcast, a documentary on the TV, and an audiobook playing out loud, something that will feed your brain while you are productive at the same time- count me in! This has really enhanced my days and makes me feel so productive, and there is something about learning new things and getting fresh perspectives that really does wonders for my scattered mind! 

Okay, you guys! I have given you the four steps that I have found seriously work for me, but here is the most important part, at least for me. 

GET A PLANNER! I can’t emphasize this enough. Having a planner has CHANGED MY LIFE. In fact, I can’t remember what I even did before having a planner. Now, here is what you do. Write down everything you HAVE to do in your week in one color, and then add everything that you GET to do in a different color.

First, in step 1, I asked you what you like to do for yourself. Schedule time for you to do those things, and make it a priority. You would never skip something for your job for no reason, so do not miss out on time for yourself for no reason. Make sure you are showing up for yourself!

Following this, schedule what makes you feel good physically. Schedule what days you want to work out even if it is one day a week, just make sure you are putting an effort into your health. I have found that this is a great way for me to clear my mind and re-center.

Next, once you find your peaceful people, make time for them! For me, this usually looks like giving my mom a call in the middle of the week just to chat- it leaves me feeling so happy, even just hearing her voice makes my days a lot brighter. Finally, having a clean space, while also actively engaging my mind at the same time, has added balance to my life in ways I can’t even emphasize enough.

I have found that in my life, being a student, an athlete, an intern, and more can easily lead to burnout if you aren’t taking care of yourself along the way. Finding balance for me has been essential in making my days a lot brighter and a lot more fulfilling, and these are some ways that I have found a lot more balance in my life. I think that these tricks that have worked for me can work for others, no matter where you are at this point in your life. These tricks have kept me from burnout when busy schedules call for exhaustion, and I hope that it can remind YOU to add little pieces of joy into every day- because you deserve it! 

Thanks for tuning into Lily’s inter(N)esting Observations, I hope that this post can help you the same way that these things helped me. I can’t wait to tune in again next week!! 

-Lily the Intern