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Create Balance in Your Home Life

It's true that there is so much that's worth appreciating, but sometimes we seem to let the daily minutiae of our lives get out of hand and, in the end, end up feeling like events pass us by on fast-forward. And that's when a balanced home life would be most beneficial.
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An author, presenter, and educator, Dr Wolbe uses mindfulness and brain research to bring greater balance and success to lives.

An author, presenter, and educator, Dr Wolbe uses mindfulness and brain research to bring greater balance and success to lives.
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Balance.

Thanksgiving is over, and all the members of your family are ready to get back to the business at hand: jobs, school, carpools, extracurricular activities for the kids. All of the details of daily living that are sometimes overwhelming, sometimes boring, and sometimes just plain wonderful. Does it ever seem that it would all be fabulous, if only there could be more balance involved?

It's true that there is so much that's worth appreciating, but sometimes we seem to let the daily minutiae of our lives get out of hand and, in the end, end up feeling like events pass us by on fast-forward. And that's when a balanced home life would be most beneficial.

Try taking these steps and see if you find it useful in bringing greater balance to your home life:

  • Make a list of three or four statements that describe what represent your greatest goals for your life. Make sure to think about your work, your family, and any other components that are most important to you. This is your mission statement.

  • If there are activities in which you currently participate, but do not support your mission statement, decide how you will change the situation. Also, list activities that will support your set goals. Add the activities that support your mission statement, and remove yourself from the activities that do not.

  • Start having family meetings every two, three, or four weeks. Schedule each meeting when it will be convenient for all family members to attend. Explain that these family meetings will serve as a time for each person to check in with each other, let family know about the important events going on in their lives, and will also be a time to make family decisions together.

  • Set guidelines for appropriate communication and behavior for during the meetings, and start your own family traditions. How will each meeting begin and end? Who will be in charge of running each meeting? Remember, everyone has a role to play in the family, and in the meetings.

  • One topic appropriate for family meetings is how home responsibilities can be shared. Whether setting the table, clearing dishes, making lunch for school the next day, cleaning rooms, or even cutting the lawn, each person can be in charge of different duties, and may even wish to rotate the responsibilities.

  • Set up a system so school-aged children understand their responsibilities regarding schoolwork and homework. Make sure to include a study area at home that will be equipped with all the supplies necessary for a child to complete all assignments.

  • Consider extracurricular activities of the children. Have you avoided over-scheduling your children to make sure they'll have enough time to complete homework, plus have time for family, time to relax, AND the extracurriculars? It might be a good idea to put everything on a calendar to visually determine if your scheduling plan is unrealistic.

    • Once you've gotten control of the home activities, and know what you'd like to accomplish according to your mission statement, you'll also want to find time for yourself each day. Even fifteen minutes of time spent on yourself each day will give you an opportunity calm, relax, and know your needs are being heard.

    Need more suggestions? Look at the videos I've provided to get all the guidance you should need. And create a balanced home life that you can enjoy and savor.

    Follow Dr. Wolbe on her website, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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