I hope you all had a great long weekend, and enjoyed the sunny weather. I’m currently on the train, heading back to Toronto because…well you guessed it, I have work tomorrow morning. To be honest though, weekdays don’t feel that much different than weekends for me, because I don’t usually do drastically different things on the weekend than I would during the week. So how then, am I able to achieve balance?
People ask me all the time, “George, how is it that you can work full time, write articles, make videos, workout etc.” Well the sad, but simple truth is that I make my passions my priority. I know, another cheesy #khalifestyle quote, but seriously that’s what I do.
After being overweight for almost half my life, I made it a strict policy to exercise daily (if I am able to) and try my best to eat healthy. What I learned after enacting this policy for so long, is to enjoy doing it as well. I actually have fun lifting weights, and discovered it to be a great stress reliever for me. For you, that might be kayaking, running, dancing, etc. So find what you actually ENJOY doing and stick to it (you’ll be more committed in the long run). Now we all have heard the common phrase “abs are built in the kitchen, not the gym”. Well sadly for me, even on a diet of lettuce and carrots my body will find a way to gain weight. To stay somewhat lean/fit during the year I work on trying to eat the important (nutritious) stuff first and then leave way for a meal or two to cheat during the week. So this consists of eating at least 2-3 pieces of fruit, a handful of vegetables with every meal, lean proteins (fish, chicken, turkey etc.), good carbs (brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat bread etc.) and you can’t forget the fats (avocados, non-salted almonds, and the occasional peanut butter). A cheat meal for me, for example would be a big breakfast at a diner (with pancakes), or all you can eat sushi.
Cool, now let’s take a break and reflect on two important things that are hidden in that big paragraph above:
1. Choose what you love doing, and make the things you value a priority
2. Be flexible..the key is consistency, and that requires commitment, which requires the activity to be fun not boring
Now we obviously all know the benefits of exercising, but why can’t we find the “time” to do it….that’s because you’re one of the below people:
1. Lazy and love excuses
2. Terrible at scheduling and can’t function Google Calendar
My intention is not to be insulting, offensive, or rude…I just want to be direct and help you make a tangible change. To do this, you have to really BELIEVE in the BENEFITS of what you’re doing (the why of the what). This will help you keep going when you’re lazy, and schedule it (no matter what) in your day despite whatever else you have going on.
So in my case, I set on working out at least 5 times a week, but get 6 if I’m on that grind mentality. I don’t budget a day off (or rest day) because one usually comes up anyways, or I go by feel (when my body requires more rest/food and less activity). Sometimes I wake up 5am to gym, if for instance I have an event after work and can’t gym at night. Otherwise, after work is fine. If I can’t go in the morning and night, I go at lunch during my work break. No excuses, no laziness, just fitting in the activity I value in my daily schedule because I made it a priority in my life.
You can apply this formula to any other activity, hobby, passion, task you have and balance it (or mix) it into your day. Remember though, you have 24 hours, and this pie only offers so many slices. You have to reflect on the the best way to split your time and give attention to value adding activities that benefit you in the long run. After all, balance is not universal, it’s not objective, and it doesn’t have a right or wrong. It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish, and whether or not you actually give a shit.
