How to Find Your Balance for Optimal Performance

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” — Jer 29:11

“Are you getting absorbed in one role to the disadvantage of the others?”

That is the question from my flashcard deck, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” The deck contains 52 cards to challenge and inspire, with one thought a week from each habit.

The topic for week 16 — “Balance Your Roles”, is a timely reminder to help me understand and overcome the difficulties I have been experiencing lately.

I have been overwhelmed by the lack of progress in some of the most important areas of my life, and I know I am not being hard on myself.

As an author, I am behind on my publishing targets. As an entrepreneur, I am not progressing as well as I planned. As a parent, being away from my family is taking a toll on me. Moreover, I have abandoned my self-care routine — no exercise, unhealthy eating habits, and poor sleep.

“One of the major problems that arises when people work to become more effective in life is they lose the sense of proportion, the balance. They may neglect the most precious relationships in their lives.” — Stephen R. Covey

I now realise that my lack of progress or fulfilment is due to the imbalance in my roles. I will do a self-audit to identify which role I spend disproportionate time and effort on.

Then, I will work actively on spacing myself, fairly apportioning my time to fulfil my important roles effectively and gain balance.

This week, join me in applying the steps I paraphrased from Stephen R. Covey’s flashcard.

1. Identifying our most important roles — entrepreneur, author, coach, professional, parent, husband, wife, etc.

2. Planning the week to help us do things that will help us better fulfil these roles.

As we start the 16th week of 2024, let us be mindful of achieving balance in our most important role.