BALANCING YOUR LIFE

I was standing at a bar in Madrid drinking a beer in the late 80s, and an old man was standing next to me, bent over and missing most of his teeth. He was drinking a beer, smoking a cigarette and eating beicon, a Spanish delicacy that is nothing more than deep fried fat. Salted deep fried fat.

Being a health-conscious 20-year-old, I asked how he could possibly do something so unhealthy to his body. He flashed a kind, toothless smile and said, “You Americans are so obsessed with your health, you don’t take the time to enjoy life. I’m 83 years old, and I’ve been smoking, drinking and eating beicon my whole life.”

I’ve been unable to shake this story for 20 years. It encapsulated the Spanish way of living, which to me is a joyous example of balance. They shutter their doors for three hours in the middle of the day to eat, drink and take a siesta. They have more national holidays than any country in the Western Hemisphere. They even have a word, puente (bridge), for taking days off on either side of a holiday to form a 10-day vacation.

This article is about balancing–and thus enjoying–your life. It’s a topic very close to my heart and one that I hope you will embrace as well.

BALANCING YOUR LIFE

If I ask 10 people in San Francisco whether their life is in balance, my bet is that at least 9 of them will say no. Work, family, play, health; it's tough to feel like you are doing any of them well. The notion of doing all of them well seems out of the question.

So here are my best tips on living a balanced life:

Lower your expectations. I know this doesn't sound like a very motivational thing to say, but something has to give in our daily lives. Accept a bit of chaos, wrinkled shirts, dirty dishes and unreturned emails. Choose the things that are REALLY important to you.

Stop reading the newspaper. Why start the day out depressed with news that other people decide you should read? Talk to your kids instead. Or just think.

Be here now. A good friend of mine has a watch that only has the word "Now" on it. Why would you possibly think of work, for example, when you're playing with your kids?

Go to sleep. Turn off the TV, walk away from your computer and give your body a rest. Studies show proper sleep decreases depression, improves your health and is good for your libido.

Quit your job. Brian Tracy says the biggest time waster of all is being in a job you hate.

Stop emailing. I see men texting & emailing at the urinal, fercryinoutloud! If you don't have control over email, you aren't running your life; you are simply responding.

Read books you want to read. If you're like me, you don't do most of the stuff in the business/self improvement books you read anyway. At the very least, alternate "pleasure" books with "should read" books.

Do it anyway. My wife often says she doesn't have time to exercise, as she is so behind in everything. My response is, "You're going to be behind either way. Might as well have a workout (or go to a movie, or take a vacation or some other "indulgence") and be behind than not have a workout and be behind."

Drink really good coffee–and wine.

Most European countries give their people six weeks of paid vacation every year, so don't feel so guilty about taking time to do things for yourself. The Spanish may never be the superpower they were in the 1600s, but they sure know how to enjoy a paella.

- Robert Graham


Robert Graham is the Principal of GrahamComm, LLC (www.grahamcomm.net), a consulting and training company that helps clients increase their sales and deliver outstanding presentations. He can be reached at 415-652-0763 or Robert@grahamcomm.net.

Re-Print Conditions
We offer this article on a nonexclusive basis. You may reprint or repost this material as long as Robert Graham’s name and contact information is included. Robert@grahamcomm.net, 415-652-0763, www.grahamcomm.net.

Back to Articles