One dozen balance boosters: checklist

One dozen balance boosters: checklist

Often times, when we think of balance, we think of it as a duality – like two sides of a scale, plus and minus. But when it comes to wellbeing, balance is less like a teeter totter and more like a balance ball. Ignoring one side of it can make us lopsided, and may compromise other sides of the sphere. Consider the checklist below and see how many balance boosters you practice on a regular basis.

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Being an active participant in your health

1. Food & Fuel | Nutrition, Hydration, Supplementation

  • Proactive Planning: Resist the impulse to reach for convenience foods and instead aim for incorporating more whole foods into your diet. Weekends can be a great time to plan the week ahead and ensure that you get a balanced intake of healthy food.
  • Hydration Routine: All living things need water to thrive. Create a daily hydration goal and set reminders to drink throughout the day. Carrying a water bottle and logging how many times you fill it is a great way to keep yourself on track.
  • Smarter Supplements: Ask your healthcare practitioner to help identify any nutritional gaps in your diet. They can recommend whole foods rich in the nutrients you need and also help you choose supplements for additional support.

2. Actions & Activity | Exercise, Movement, Prevention

  • Get Moving Goals: Set attainable daily movement goals and see how long you can keep a streak going. Maybe it's walking 10,000 steps or adding several short bursts of activity to your day. There are a myriad of apps and trackers that can make it even more fun.
  • Mix Up Exercise: There's no need to bore yourself by doing the same kind of exercise day in and day out. Mix up your cardio, flexibility and strength training to keep your routine engaging. Not only does it target different muscle groups, it helps combat burnout.
  • Practice Preventative Movement: There are numerous exercises and stretches that improve balance, core strength, coordination and flexibility. Building up your foundational strength can protect you from injury in times of exertion, fatigue, and overuse.

3. Rest & Restore | Restoration, Sleep, and Stress Management

  • Sleep Hygiene: Create a bedtime routine that promotes quality sleep. Reduce screen time before bed, wring out tensions with relaxing stretches, dim the lights and get cozy. Do your best to keep your bedtime consistent. Your body will thank you.
  • Do the Downtime: Whether it’s a daily meditation session or a weekend retreat, schedule yourself some "me time" for relaxation. Consider this time as important if not more so than the commitments you make to others. Recovery is a non-negotiable.
  • Mindful Stress Management: Deep breathing, yoga, or journaling can be valuable stress management techniques to add into your daily routine as well as in moments where you just need to switch your stressor off. Listening to music, getting outdoors or spending time with your pet are great practices as well.

4. Contentment & Connection | Mental Health, Stimulation, and Connection

  • Cultivate Your Circle: Do your best to nurture relationships with the people you love by scheduling regular check-ins or planned activities together.
  • Lifelong Learning: Set goals for learning new skills and expanding your interests. Things like online courses, workshops, tutorials and books can contribute to personal growth and fulfillment.
  • Regular Reflection: Incorporate mindfulness techniques, like gratitude journaling or meditation, to promote mental well-being. Focus on positive experiences that might go unappreciated to build contentment.

Why stop at 12 when there are dozens of ways to support a balanced lifestyle? Remember to consider every side of the sphere when seeking balance for multi-faceted you.

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