The weight of having a busy schedule is real. There’s always something you could be working on, so many things to prioritize, and so many decisions to be made. Oftentimes we’re in this constant state of motion. We feel as if we can’t truly rest the way we want to. This causes us to slip into survival mode where we start to forget to care for ourselves in the process. I’ve experienced this firsthand. Every day I’m juggling full-time work, a business, while also trying to actively maintain a social life while also in pursuit of my goals. But what I’ve learned over time is that balance isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about being intentional with your time and energy, and creating systems that support your well-being as well as your responsibilities. In this blog post, I’ll share the simple, practical strategies that have helped me maintain balance even on the busiest days.
I. Recognize When You’re Out of Balance
As a busy woman, you’re likely juggling multiple responsibilities, whether you’re an entrepreneur, a professional, a mom, or all of the above. For me, I balance being a software engineer and an entrepreneur while also juggling my own personal pursuits, family and friends at the same time The reality of trying to juggle everything at once is exhausting. When you don’t maintain balance, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. When I start to feel exhausted, I tend to feel irritable and my focus is all over the place. If you’re unsure if you’ve felt out of balance, here are some signs:
- You constantly feel behind and like you’re playing catch-up, no matter how much you accomplish
- Simple decisions become difficult as your mind feels cluttered with too many pending tasks
- You experience physical symptoms like headaches, tension, or difficulty sleeping due to racing thoughts about your to-do list
- You find yourself procrastinating more than usual because the number of tasks feels too daunting to start
If you’re able to recognize the signs that you are overwhelmed or stressed, you can quickly course correct so that you can get back to creating and maintaining balance again. Think of these warning signs as your body’s way of communicating that something needs to change. By paying attention to these signals early on, you can make small adjustments before burnout sets in.
II. Set Measurable Checkpoints to Regain Control
One of the best ways to regain control of your life is to establish a routine for balance through measurable checkpoints throughout the day. These small, trackable routines help you maintain balance as life gets busy. Creating a daily structure with visible, trackable actions can help you keep yourself accountable while also building good habits. These habits can be as simple as meditating for 10 minutes or making your bed every morning. When you track habits for mental clarity, even small routines can help keep you grounded when life feels chaotic.
When you’re tracking these habits, it can help you avoid the spiral of nothing getting done. If you can commit to doing three small things for yourself every day, you create a sustainable routine to maintain balance, which prevents that overwhelming feeling of stagnation. Having measurable habits reinforces a sense of progress and stability. Some things that you could start tracking are your sleep, hydration, steps taken, or pages read in a book.
Action Tip: Start tracking one of these habits for the next seven days.
III. Nurture Your Support System
When we think of our self-care a lot of times we only focus on physical wellness. However, our social wellness is a big part of how we maintain balance. We often times can be so focused on what we are doing that we forget about the people around us that are there to emotionally support us. Balance doesn’t have to be in isolation. Support from our community can come in different ways. It can look like daily calls with a friend or family member, texting your group chat for encouragement, going to a workout class weekly with a friend. The important thing is that you feel connected to someone else outside of yourself to help you stay grounded.
In order to have that emotional support system, you have to nurture it. Relationships can’t just be in one-sided and they take work to continue to nurture them. The older I get, the more I feel that life has gotten busier and busier for everyone that I know. However, you have to make the time to be there for the one’s you care about. That looks like showing up for their special moments, planning trips to see each other, and picking up the phone to call. Having a community where the support is flowing in abundance is a great way to ensure that you are emotionally supported, grounded and able to maintain balance in your relationships and mental health.
Action Tip: Reach out to a friend today who keeps you grounded.
IV. Plan With Structure—But Leave Room to Breathe
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail; but don’t over do it. Having somewhat of a plan for your structure of a day is helpful for mental planning but it should also leave room for you to breathe. Intentional planning is a key strategy to maintain balance throughout your week. It’s important to take breaks throughout the work day so that you can recover and feel more productive. It’s important to have downtime. A few ways that you can plan for mental clarity and allow for a flexible scheduling are:
- Time blocking: creating time blocks that allow you to allocate time to get work done but leaves room for you to decide what you’re going to do in that time.
- 70/30 rule: Plan 70% of your day but leave room for flexibility for 30% of your day.
- No-Meeting Days: Have days where you have no meetings so that you can catch up on work uninterrupted.
Having a flexible schedule isn’t just about managing your time. It’s about managing your energy. When you create a structure that allows for both focused work and breathing room, you’re setting yourself up for sustainable success. Remember that your schedule should work for you, not against you. By implementing these planning strategies while maintaining flexibility, you maintain balance between productivity and rest.
Action Tip: Schedule 1 hour every day of uninterrupted focus time.
V. Be Flexible and Kind to Yourself
Unfortunately (and fortunately) real life isn’t going to always go as planned. That’s why you need to be flexible. Flexibility is a core principle when you want to maintain balance, especially in unpredictable seasons. Having a flexible mindset as opposed to a rigid one creates guilt. When you’re adaptable you can be more sustainable. Give yourself the grace when things don’t go according to plan and allow yourself the freedom to make changes based on the circumstances in front of you. Self-compassion fuels long-term consistency way more than discipline alone. Some ways to be kinder to yourself are:
- Letting go of unfinished to-dos: If things that were once a priority can no longer be a priority, let it go.
- Setting good, better, and best goals: Rather than focus on the optimal state, focus on the small wins and continue to grow from there.
- Adjust your schedule during different seasons: if your energy levels have changed due to a new schedule or a change in weather, make adjustments so that you can work in your most energetic state.
By showing yourself compassion, you can maintain balance even in the busiest seasons of life. Remember that balance is a journey, not a destination, and each day brings new opportunities to refine your approach. As you continue to practice self-compassion and flexibility, you’ll develop a more sustainable and fulfilling relationship with your daily routines and priorities.
Action Tip: Ask yourself, “what do I need to do right now — not what should I be doing?”
VI. Define What Balance Looks Like for You
Defining balance is so personal. Everyone is working with a different set of priorities, responsibilities, and energy capacity. Understanding your unique rhythm is essential to maintain balance in a way that aligns with your lifestyle. You cannot compare yourself to other people. I know for me, balance looks like carving out the space to exercise, travel, work my full-time job, create content and nurture relationships with friends and family all at the same time. To some that may look like a lot, but for me it works. For you, it could look like having time to work on a new book you’re writing or carving out time to spend with your children. Avoid comparing your flow to anyone else’s and find your own rhythm as you move throughout life.
While I do do a lot of different things, how much time I spend doing all of those things varies from week to week and in a lot of cases from day to day. As something else pops into my schedule, I allow myself the opportunity to re-calibrate, reset, and adjust based on my needs and aspirations. The key is understanding that some weeks you might have more energy for creative projects, while others might require more focus on rest and recovery. What matters most is that you’re honoring your current needs while staying aligned with your long-term vision. Your definition of balance should evolve as you do, adapting to new circumstances and growth opportunities. That’s how you’ll continue to maintain balance through every season.
Action Tip: Write one sentence that defines what balance looks like for you this month.
Conclusion: Your Personalized Path to Balance
Remember, finding and maintaining balance isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about creating a life that feels manageable and fulfilling for you. By recognizing your warning signs, establishing measurable routines, nurturing your support system, planning with flexibility, and defining what balance is for yourself, you will know how to maintain balance even if the day itself is chaotic. What is one thing that you will do this week to feel more balanced? Leave a comment a let me know.
Last Updated on May 17, 2025 by ademusoyo
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