Breathe to Achieve Balance

As we close this month’s theme, Work Life Balance, I want to share an observation I had recently which had me rethinking how I go about seeking balance in my life.   For many years, if not for most of my life, I’ve interpreted balance in terms of ‘addition’. Here is what I mean. Knowing that my work would always skew every equation of balance in my life, I considered that finding the ideal balance, for me at least, would require me to add things into the equation: add in more time for loved ones, add in more time for myself, add in more time to sleep. You get the picture.   Here was the challenge: In my efforts to achieve balance through addition, I was really only creating conditions where I was even more time starved. Balance became an act of juggling – and, as we all know, when you juggle for long enough, balls are going to fall.   So what was I to do? Certainly, I was not about to subtract work time – an obvious solution, but not feasible one. Here’s where a new perspective began to take shape. Sometimes, solutions emerge where you least expect them.   I got an Apple Watch two years ago and have been fascinated with all the tricks it could do. In fact, I think, as with my brain, I am likely only using 10% of my watch’s capabilities.   Recently, I’ve noticed my watch doing something for me without me tapping away at it. From time to time, my watch vibrates and I get a notification with a simple message: Time to Breathe. Since getting these messages, and following these very straight-forward instructions, I’ve begun a new practice: whenever I get one of these messages, I begin a three-minute ritual:

Minute 1 – I REFLECT on the day so far – from the moment I woke up to the moment I saw this message. Minute 2 – As I reflect on the day’s events, I OBSERVE what aspects of the day jump out as something that felt pleasant, or made me smile or even laugh. Minute 3 – I express GRATITUDE for those things which made me smile, for the good feelings and the happiness they brought me.   Often, these happiness-inducing events in my day are rather insignificant. But what I’ve learned is that if they were enough to stop me in reflection, if they were enough to make me smile, then they were worthy of my gratitude.   I encourage you to try this exercise yourself – whether you have an Apple Watch or not. Timing minute-by-minute is not required. It’s about the process, and about taking the time to truly Reflect, Observe and feel Gratitude.