Real Life Stories With Life Balancing Tips

When asked how they balanced their lives, fellow writers responded with these tips:

"I actually feel I live a VERY balanced life. Or at least it feels that way because I surround myself with activities and work that I enjoy. I think that's key. I hate being around people who hate their family life, or their friends, or their work - I'm a big believer that if you don't enjoy an element of your life, you need to make changes because 99 % of the time, there's no need to do things you don't enjoy. You should enjoy who you are, the people whom you surround yourself with and the things you do." Mia Carter, Pet Care Writer.

" I once read that a balanced life involves picking 3 things to focus on, otherwise you're stretched too thin. So, out of family, extended family/relatives, work, travel, community, church, volunteering, recreation, hobbies, etc.......pick 3. I'd pick family, work, and recreation. Is that balanced?" Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, Freelance Writer.

"Today is my birthday and ... I can look back and see purpose, although I do not know if I always thought it was balanced. After two careers unsatisfying but financially necessary, I am able to pursue my life garden writing. Through it all my faith in god as remained. So now my purposeful balanced life is a connected life - garden/write/read/walk/sleep. My husband, dog and cat, and home are loves that help me stay rooted." Chris Eirschele, Garden Writer

"I also think it's very important to keep things goal oriented. If I didn't set goals with "fun" things, then I would stop doing them and focus only on work and school, the things I have to do. I keep a very detailed to do list, and it includes things like "study 100 words of Russian vocabulary today," "read thirty pages in a novel," "read three New Yorker articles," etc." Judith Avory Faucette, Freelance Writer

"I have only one anchor to balance my life - Jesus. Everything else is constantly changing. Life is like that. Control is an illusion. Whenever things get to be overwhelming, I turn to Jesus. He is real and never changes. He never lets me down. Earthly things inevitably will. Works for me." Stella Walsh, Freelance Writer

"I have found balance, however, in letting go of my expectations of what my life should look like and learning to live the life I really have. I guess it's a way of accepting reality and the things I can't control, and finding freedom in letting go of my vision of how things should be. Sometimes that means doing things I don't want to do -- contrary to what another writer posted. But when I drop the expectations, I find surprise in that...I find balance in giving up "my way". That works at home too, in my relationship with my husband, in caring for the house, in learning to garden, in "training" pets (hah!). I don't have religion, but I definitely have a spiritual life. Next time I start making lists and feeling overwhelmed, I'll come back here and re-read." Trevy Thomas, Food Writer

"For me, a balanced life means it fits into these three categories: mind, body and soul. I don't see the need to limit myself to three specific things, but to these three ideals. Everything I do I see as complimenting one or more of those three - and never damaging to the others. By the end of a day if I attend to my mind, body and soul then I feel balanced. If I miss out on one then I start feeling overwhelmed." Tammy Andrew, Teaching Writer

"When you learn to like yourself and to trust that things will work out, the rest falls into place. It doesn't make a lot of difference whether you do that through religion, work you love, caring for others, or something else that you find fulfilling. The details don't matter. My experience anyway. Which is why I wasn't going to post at first, because whether or not I lead a balanced life seemed totally irrelevant, when life is pretty good the way it is. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone but me, but...you asked!" Helen Krasner, Aviation Writer

"I choose to be self employed. By becoming my own boss, I empowered myself to schedule my work around my life. I set my own hours and schedule, and answer to myself, because I am my toughest critic. I am also able to work at tasks that I am interested in. I believe that to be in business for yourself is extremely freeing, but it only works for those who are self-motivated. I also believe that being my own boss has made me more productive as I am now able to handle the most pressing tasks without worrying about what I am "supposed" to be doing." Catherine Garretson-Bilnoski, Freelance Writer