Creating A Well Balanced Life
Lots of times when we think of goals we think about career and financial goals. However, goals are helpful in other aspects of life too! Someone once told me that "to be the best version of yourself when you must succeed in all areas of your life." I think this is a very easy concept to agree with... however it is a lot easier said than done. To do well in the different areas of life, such as health, career, financial, social, faith, family, travel, etc, it takes hard work! It isn't easy! But it will be worth it!
Here are 6 reasons to set goals for all areas of your life:
1. Goals build on each other
One of the easy ways to see how our goals connect is to look at our health goals. If we are healthy, we will oftentimes be more efficient and productive at our job. I know for myself, what I eat for lunch can often determine how productive I am in the afternoon. If I eat something greasy with lots of carbs, I will often feel much more tired in the afternoon vs if I eat a salad. Also, when I start to become disciplined about my health, I feel much more encouraged to be disciplined in the other areas of my life too. If I get up and workout before work, I feel much more energized throughout the day. This causes me to be more productive and potentially earn more!
2. There is more to life than money
Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to meet many people who have had terrific success in their careers. However, several of the people I met with would neglect the other areas of their life. They would have the large house, super expensive car, and thriving business. But, they were single, overweight, with close to no social life outside of work. I remember thinking, is all that money really worth it? Even if you have all the money in the world, if you aren't healthy enough to go out and enjoy life, what is it worth? Or if you don't have people in your life to share it with, doesn't buying fancy cars to put in your garage ever get old?
The people I have met who seem to be the happiest are those who are thriving in all areas. They have a successful career AND also have a great family, hobby they are passionate about, exciting social life, strong faith, and a healthy lifestyle.
3. It helps you feel refreshed
Having goals you are working towards in all areas helps to keep your mind feeling refreshed. Burnout is a very real thing. I truly enjoy the work that I do, however, going long periods of time without taking a break or day off eventually runs me down. I have often feel that I get some of my best ideas when I am NOT working! I might be working out, socializing with friends, or taking a trip when some of my best ideas of coming to me. Or when I am faced with a large challenge, if I take a break and come back to it with a fresh perspective, I oftentimes quickly find the solution. Taking breaks and allowing your mind to focus on other things will help you to get a new perspective and refresh your mind.
4. It is healthier
It is important for our physical and mental health to have a well-rounded life. Studies have also shown that having a passionate hobby, an exciting social life, or a strong faith are all great for your health! They help to reduce stress and energize your brain. Also, they have been shown to increase happiness, which has been shown to also improve health and extend one's lifespan. By thriving in these other areas of life, you not only become happier but can be healthier too! It's a double win!
5. Long-term happiness
Taking time to improve the various aspects of life will take time and effort. Although I do think through life, there will be times we need to be extremely focused on specific areas for a short period of time. If you are in the process of starting a business, it might not be the best time to also decide to train for a marathon. However, don't stop running altogether! I have certainly had times in my life where I have had to spend less time with friends and travel to focus in other areas of life. However, be careful this does not become a permanent lifestyle. If you need to take a couple of months to focus heavily on something that is understandable, however, don't neglect the other areas of your life, and make sure you do put them back into your routine before long.
Taking time to improve the different areas of your life will start to compile. It may not seem like you are making the largest steps right now, but all those little actions add up so that one day you can be thriving in all areas of your life. I am sure years down the road you will be thankful that you took the time to form great friendships, get into shape, and set money aside into savings.
6. It's more fun!
Life isn't all about work! What will you do this year that will be fun? What is a new experience you would like to try for the first time this year? Where is somewhere you have been wanting to travel to? Challenge yourself outside of work! Is there a new hobby you could pick up, a project you have wanted to do, or a race you have been wanting to run? Having goals like this can help to spark your creativity and experience more. Be sure to schedule time this year for goofing off and having fun.
Start putting your goals in writing and live life to the fullest!
So what are some goals you have for yourself outside of career? What are some of your fitness goals? What are some of your travel goals? If you need help discovering what your goals are and coming up with a plan to achieve them, check out the GoalCrazy 90 day planner. It starts with a Life Crash Course that will help you discover what your goals are and build a plan to get there. The planner will help you break your goals down to monthly, weekly, and daily steps to get there. It will also provide an easy way to track your progress daily, showing you exactly what you did well and where you need to improve. Check it out below.