Looking for Balance

Do you ever feel like this elephant? 

With all of the demands on our time and attention, life can feel impossible at times.  And there's no doubt that we do it to ourselves through the choices we make.

I've hatched countless schemes over the last couple decades.  On the short-term end of the spectrum, my vending machine "business" lasted about 2 months.  The mortgage company, on the other hand, lasted almost a decade.  When market conditions and a thousand mile move made the business stagnant, I was happy to move on to a new venture.

That's when I started writing.  I had thought about writing and studied writing for more than 2 years before I even picked up the proverbial pen.  Nobody, not even me, knew if it was just another venture that would flare then phase away or if I would stick with it long enough to make it big.

Four and a half novels later, I feel like I'm here to stay.  Writing is what I think about when I don't have to think about anything.  Shoot, it's what I think about even when I'm supposed to be thinking about something else.  That leads to my current problem -- balance.

I spend a lot of time with my kids.  I go to church religiously (pun intended).  I date Wifey nearly every week.  I manage our vacation rental and I put hours and hours into the yard every week.  But I've come to realize my even though my body is participating in a wide variety of activities, my mind isn't always entirely present.

It sucks to admit it, but I gotta find some balance in my life.

Balance of Life by Wojciech Magierski

You're probably waiting for me to tell you what magic pill I've found to bring my life into balance.  Well, it's not coming.  I'm still working on it. 

I started by calendaring my week.  But I didn't define my roles well enough and with the exception of appointments and obligations, almost everything in my planner related to writing.  So next week I'll write out my roles and be sure to schedule items that help me make progress in all of them.

I managed to run just for the health of it this week.  Even though I've run hundreds of miles over the last couple years, it's all been in training for a race.  Running without a goal turned out to be a good physical boost.

Other than that, I'll continue to get more central in my thoughts and actions.  When I'm writing, I'll give it 100%.  And when not writing, I'll put my attention where it belongs.

So give me a hand here.  What are your thoughts?  I know I'm not the only one off balance.  Give me some ideas of what has helped you find balance in your life...