There are two essential steps when reflecting on the changes you need to make to have a more balanced life.
First, you need to look honestly at which areas of your life are receiving too much attention and which are receiving too little attention.
For example, are you paying too much attention to your hobbies and neglecting time with loved ones? Or are you spending too much time at work and neglecting your physical health?
Thinking about the amount of time and energy you spend on specific activities and the consequences that might arise from these choices can give you an idea of what needs to change.
After reflecting on which domains of your life need to change, you’re ready for the second step of planning for a more balanced life.
Thinking about your values is the second step in pursuing a balanced life. That is, you need to think about what’s important to you at this time in your life. Being clear about what matters most to you right now can help you prioritize what to work on first and give you more clarity about why it’s important.
Thinking about what’s important is where the idea of “value management” comes in.
Value Management
In my book, The Promise Wheel, I talk about the importance of being value-driven in your pursuit of a balanced life. What I mean by this is that when you are reflecting on what it is that you want to focus on – the area(s) of life that you want to address right now – the plan you create will depend mainly on the values that you hold at this time in your life.
For example, if you are concerned about your physical health (the letter P in PROMISE), most of your attention will go toward addressing your sleep, diet, and physical activity.
If you are newly retired, you might find that your day is unstructured, and you need more activities to help fill your day. In that case, you’ll need to pay attention to the Interests and Hobbies domain of your Wheel. Having interests and hobbies that give you a sense of purpose and pleasure can replace many of the positive qualities you derived from your job (e.g., camaraderie, a sense of responsibility, structure, and routine.)
Or, if you’ve been struggling with uncomfortable emotions like stress, worry, or sadness, you might need to work on the issues that are leaving you feeling stuck in those emotional states. In that case, paying attention to your mind and mental health – the M in PROMISE – might be what you value most now.
Time Management Compliments Value Management
I’m a bit of a productivity geek. I love watching videos on productivity hacks, hearing podcasts on managing my to-do lists, and thinking of new ways to be more productive and improve my daily workflow. Because I’m interested in reading and learning about the topic of productivity, you could say that it’s part of the Interests and Hobbies domain of my Wheel.
But there’s a reason why I am focusing on this domain at this point in my life. As I work on expanding my private practice and the services I offer, I need to feel productive and efficient with my time. So focusing on my Wheel’s Interests and Hobbies domain is high on my values list.
In the end, if you want to be better at managing your time, reflect on your values. As you identify what’s important to you, you’ll have more clarity on structuring your day and making the most of your waking hours.
Richard