“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management.” Unknown

Happy Monday! 

The other day, I was thinking about work/life balance and realized I’m not a great example. I love my work and get involved with the various aspects to the point that I neglect other elements of my life. I think I’ve been this way my entire adult life, perhaps, even in childhood. I wonder how many of us feel the same way, particularly in this age of technology that has the potential to keep us engaged 24/7/365. Are we seeking balance, or is that a politically correct way of trying to avoid creating boundaries? It’s something to think about.

Balance involves a sense of harmony and managing how much time we spend on work or career tasks versus what we do with our free time. I’ve read things like:

“Life is the balance of holding on and letting go.” Rumi

“Life is all about balance. You don’t always need to be getting stuff done. Sometimes it’s perfectly okay, and absolutely necessary, to shut down, kick back, and do nothing.” Lori Deschene

“Life is a balance between what we can control and what we cannot. I am learning to live between effort and surrender.” Danielle Orner

These are all excellent thoughts and are relevant to attaining and maintaining balance in life. Here’s one that goes a bit deeper:

Photo by Erin Menashri. No copyright infringement intended.

This unknown author captures my thoughts about balance. You see, balance is more than simply regulating where we spend our time. It’s about how we spend it. Whereas balance refers to how we juggle the various facets of our lives, boundaries speak to how we set limitations for ourselves and others. For example, there’s a difference between trying to carve out more time for things we enjoy and taking accountability for our work ethics. In doing so, we create limits to ensure that we’re mindful of the things that rob us of our freedom to create a better quality of life.

Scripture references boundaries in Psalm 104:8-10:

“The waters go up the mountains,
then down to the valleys—
to the place that You assigned to them.

You set a boundary to the waters

that they may not cross over,
so they may not return to cover the earth.

You make springs gush into the valleys.

They run between the mountains.” (TL V)

These boundaries weren’t created to ensure balance. They were designed to keep things in proper order. This concept applies to nature, our emotions, physical fitness, mental acuity, and spirituality. Boundaries create an opportunity for balance in all genres of wellbeing. What a unique and revelatory concept.

Establishing boundaries is the catalyst to accessing balance in life. Doesn’t that invite us to feel more positive about creating and preserving boundaries – they don’t have to be some dangerous pursuit – boundaries are actually essential in accessing an effective work/life balance that leads to a better quality of life. It’s not an either/or situation, but both in the proper order.

Try to take some reflective time this week and entertain how boundaries inform balance. You could use the concept as a mindfulness exercise. I suspect you’ll have fun in discovery, leading to more of both!

Be Well & Be Blessed!

Lucinda