As I’m spending a bit of time outside this afternoon writing for a side project. It occurred to me just how much I enjoy this.
A good cup of joe, some background noise and experiencing more than just walls, paint, and the serenity my office provides.
I think that it’s incredibly important that in every area of our life we are striving for balance. Except of course to be fully invested in the Gospel.
But I’d like to share a few of the ways that I try to regularly balance in my own life.
Spending time alone – Spending time with people
I feel as though Jesus spent a lot of time with others, but numerous times in Scripture we see Him going to be alone with God.
Spending time with just our Creator is fulfilling. We must spend time alone to hear God’s voice in our life.
But we also must spend time with others. Love God – Love People (John 13:35) cannot be accomplished in isolation.
We must have both of these in our lives.
Intellectual Activity – Physical Activity
Our minds need exercise as well. Thinking is a natural exercise for me but challenging yourself intellectually isn’t a natural thing for everyone. Seek some ways to disrupt your pattern of thinking.
Not so natural to me is physical exercise. I used to love it but have recently found myself loathing it. It’s necessary but evil 
I’d love some thoughts on how to stay motivated in this area of life.
Conflict – Harmony
This is one of my favorite life principals to talk through. Conflict is going to happen. Think of all the different books on personalities, gifts, and strengths. God created all of us so different and that will cause conflict. Handling conflict well is key.
But if all you seem to be doing is moving from one conflict to the next, it’s time to ask yourself some hard questions.
Those are some of the areas that I think of balance, what are some others?
Share an area of balance that you are aware of needing in your life in the comments below.
After high school (I was on the wrestling team), I stopped exercising. So, for the last 19 years I have not consistently exercised. Until a few months ago. I now ride my bike 8-10 miles, 5 days a week. The clincher for me was about a year ago when we went to a one car family. I bought a scooter for me to travel around in. The scooter broke a few months ago, I am cheap. So, now I ride my bike to and from my office. So, I have to bike…It’s my form of transportation.
As a result, I feel the best I have in years. I have more energy than I did in my mid 20′s. I am more creative than ever before. I feel alive again. It’s had a ripple effect in a lot of other areas of my life.
Also, along the lines of balance, here are my thoughts. I am about to blog about this. I recently read research about creative people working in 45min-90min blocks of time. Then taking a 10-15 minute breaks…to read, chat with a co-worker, stretch, etc. The research shows that your prefrontal cortex, area of the brain that creates/produces outcome, is a muscle easily tired. So, you actually are counterproductive when you work your brain for more than 45-90 minutes at time. So, now, I work less, but the actual output is so much more. Yes, counterintuitive, but I dare you to try it! The other benefit is that I have a sense of work/family/ministry balance more now than ever. Okay, enough said.
Thanks for the study at the end, very helpful. And thanks for being better at exercise than me haha. Definitely trying to find something that I enjoy!