Finding balance in life for mums

Life is like a wheel with six cogs, when they are all working together, life can feel pretty great. However our wheel needs maintenance, if we don’t maintain and take care of our wheel on a regular basis it can cause us to feel unbalanced. Here are the six cogs to a more balanced life:

The Emotional cog

The Physical cog

The Intellectual cog

The Financial/Occupational cog

The Spiritual cog

The Social cog

How do you feel emotionally and mentally? This is the first question you need to ask yourself when starting with the emotional cog. It is important to be very honest with your feelings, you can talk out loud to someone or yourself or you can write down how you feel. Putting your feelings down on paper can be very powerful.

Your emotional cog is about your feelings, emotions and reactions including love, joy, happiness, sorrow, sadness, grieve, excitement, loss and more.

Mental health can profoundly impact your overall life. Ask yourself questions about your emotional state: How often do you feel? Anxious or stressed? Identifying these feelings can help you address them effectively.

Laughter is also a powerful tool for improving your emotional balance, as it releases endorphins, helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Laughter is one of the best ways to overcome these emotions and restore balance. Laughter is a great way to relieve depression and anxiety and can give your mind a much needed break.

Starting with this particular pillar can be the hardest but the one that can help the other cogs in your life become more balanced and manageable.

Your physical health is another critical area. Do you feel tired, sluggish, or unwell? Improving your physical health through regular activity and a balanced diet can increase your energy levels and overall happiness.

If you want to feel better within yourself and your body, working on your physical health can help you feel stronger, fitter and healthier giving you more energy and a boost of serotonin and endorphins.

Incorporate activities you enjoy, like walking, swimming, or dancing. Physical activity isn’t just about gym workouts; it’s about staying active in your daily life. Eating balanced meals and allowing yourself occasional treats in moderation can also enhance your physical wellbeing.

Maintaining your physical cog, allows you to have a good quality of life by taking charge of your health.

Stimulating your mind through creative outlets, learning new skills, or reading can keep your intellectual cog in balance.

Being a lifelong learner opens you up to new experiences and personal growth, helping you navigate life’s challenges more effectively.

This cog significantly impacts the other cogs. Striving for financial freedom is common, but focusing solely on this can create imbalances elsewhere. If your work or financial situation is causing stress, it’s time to reassess.

If things are not working in our occupational/financial cog it can have an effect on our emotional cog, we have less motivation and time to work on our physical cog, we have less time for our social cog, we burn out quicker causing our intellectual cog to suffer and finally we feel less connected to our spiritual cog.

Learning new skills or pursuing a passion can improve this area, positively affecting all your other cogs. Balance between work and home life is essential for overall happiness.

Doing something you love to do will bring you the income you desire which will have a big effect on your occupation/financial cog. It is important to find balance between work and home life for a much more fulfilling and happier life.

Relationships—whether romantic, familial, or friendships—play a crucial role in your wellbeing. Assess the quality of your relationships and address any that are negatively impacting you. Improving these relationships can provide a solid foundation of love and support, enhancing your overall outlook on life.

Poor relationships can overcloud other areas in your wheel. If you feel disconnected in a relationship it is important to find the cause of the problem, be able to improve the relationship or walk away to improve yourself.

Improving relationships can allow you to have a solid foundation for love and support from another. Spending time with friends and family can have an impact on your work/life balance, you will feel more connected to yourself and towards others giving you less stress and anxiety overall.

Spirituality means different things to different people. It could involve religious practices, meditation, journaling, or other forms of self-connection. Finding a spiritual practice that resonates with you can provide a sense of purpose and alignment.

Finding a way to connect with yourself, spending time with yourself, knowing what you want and where you want to go in life will also have an impact on your overall life. Having that sense of self and connection is extremely beneficial.

Having a spiritual connection in a way that works for you, can give you a sense of self, a purpose and meaning of your life. If you feel disconnected it may be time to find a spiritual practice that works for you to bring you back into alignment.

Maintaining your wheel of life requires regular attention to each cog. By dedicating time to each area, you’ll find it easier to stay balanced and feel more in harmony with life and yourself.

What areas of your life need attention to bring you back into balance? I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time,

Rachel x