By Crystal Linn

The dictionary has multiple definitions for the word balance, both as a noun and as a verb. For the focus of this column I will use the concepts of ‘to bring into harmony or proportion,’ and ‘to equalize.’

As you know, many people find their life out of balance when one area of life demands more time and energy than other areas. This is true for those whose work responsibilities demand the majority of their time, leaving little time for family. The same is true for business owners and mothers with small children.

The end results are sleep deprivation and acute stress which results in severe health problems. Experts continue to learn how critical sleep is. The body has to ‘shut down’ a person with sleep so it can detox and heal itself, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared sleep deprivation a serious epidemic.

Fortunately, there are a multitude of different approaches a person can use to help bring balance into his or her life, including more sleep. Here are just three of those ideas.

Create morning lists. Writing down a list of daily projects only takes a few minutes each morning (or evening). This is most helpful to get the subjective thoughts out of one’s brain and down on paper where they can be seen objectively, and better dealt with. The brief dopamine high of crossing items off one’s list is definitely worth it.

Identify positive activities. When a person schedules time for enjoyable activities the brain’s reward system is activated causing the brain to send out positive neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters provide energy and actually improve cognitive function.

Set boundaries and learn to say no. This can be challenging especially when our culture associates saying no with being the ‘bad guy’. Yet if a person does not practice self-care then that person will not be able to function at full capacity for work.

Another method for finding balance in one’s life is known as the 8-8-8 Rule. In the early 19th century Robert Owen, a Welshman, became a social reformer who helped improve labor laws creating better hours and working conditions, especially for women and children. Owen’s “war cry” was eight hours of work, eight hours of sleep and eight hours of personal time. The 8-8-8 method is far from ideal because it does not allow for domestics such as shopping, cleaning and home maintenance. Nor does it mention time for self-care.

The value of the 8-8-8 method is that it encourages a person to look at his or her situation and not allow one area, mainly work, to dominate one’s life. Even if domestics and self-care require two or three hours a day, that still leaves five or six hours of personal time which is definitely beneficial for one’s physical and mental health.

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