Balance. That elusive thing I’ve heard people talk about for years, yet it always felt like something I could never quite grasp. People seem to have this magical ability to balance work, exercise, family, and their personal time, but for me, finding balance has been a constant struggle. I’ve watched people out for their morning walks or runs, and wondered: How do they do it every single day? I’m not that person.
Growing up, I was active in sports—playing netball and staying active—but once I started working at 16, exercise was put on the back burner. I joined a running group and even ran the Great Wall of China half marathon, but once I got home, the motivation disappeared, that was ten years ago. I’ve struggled with this on and off my whole life.
The turning point came when I started working from home during Covid. I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to create the work-life balance I had always dreamed of. I envisioned walking every morning, eating healthy meals, and having time to focus on my personal well-being. But, as many of us learned, working from home comes with its own set of challenges. My life became a whirlwind of stress, trying to juggle being a solo parent, my dad’s illness, and trying to make ends meet. I found myself shutting down once the workday was over. I didn’t feel like doing anything. I couldn’t even get outside for a walk because I was too drained. The emotional weight of everything I was juggling left me mentally drained, I didn’t have the energy for anything, even the things that I knew would make me feel better.
When my dad passed away three years ago, the weight of the grief added another layer to my already stressful life. I wasn’t someone who had it all together. But I’ve slowly learned to accept that balance doesn’t mean perfection. It’s about small improvements and learning how to cope with the ups and downs of life.
Earlier this year, I took a trip to Sydney with a friend. We had long conversations about how important it is to take care of yourself first. That trip became a turning point. During that trip, I realised that I had been neglecting my own wellbeing for so long, that I forgot how important it was to care for myself first before taking care of everyone else. So, I set up a recurring morning walk with my friend and started listening to podcasts like The Diary of a CEO. One of the most impactful things I discovered was Slimpod, which helped me get moving again and work on my relationship with food.
Balance isn’t about having everything in perfect harmony. It’s about learning to listen to your body and mind, prioritising what truly matters, and making small improvements each day. Everyone’s version of balance is different, and that’s ok. What matters is finding what works for you and sticking with it—even on the days that feel hard.
These are the days that you need to take time for. Feel the hard, look back at where you started, and how far you’ve come. Look to the future and think about where you want to be. You need to take time for yourself because letting the hard days take over doesn’t help you or your business. You need to be kind to yourself on these days so that you can move forward in finding and signing new clients. Push forward with a positive mindset. Sometimes, this might feel fake to you, but the more you look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that your business is great and your success is real, the more you will believe it—and that fake feeling will fade away.
If you’re struggling to find balance between your business, family and personal time, let’s talk about how you can start making small improvements that work for you. I’m here to offer support and a listening ear.
