Sometimes achieving balance in life seems like a far-off dream. How do you incorporate everything you want to do with the things you have to do and still have time to eat and sleep? If you take a look at all of your obligations and desires and choose the ones that are most important to you, it can be done.

You can have a more balanced life by creating a daily rhythm.

A rhythm is different from a schedule in that it flows from one thing to the next. It’s not stringent, which helps people who buck against authority (me!) stick with it. There is room for flexibility, yet it gives you direction throughout the day in case you’ve found yourself sucked into yet another YouTube video of dancing kittens.

How to create your daily rhythm:

Make a list of what your ideal day would look like. When do you get up and go to bed? Do you exercise first thing or for an energy boost in the afternoon? When are you most creative? How do you like to engage with your spouse and kids?

Take a look at everything you’ve written down and see where they fit in your ideal day. (Not all of it will, that’s ok.) Now put it into action.

Don’t worry if something doesn’t work. Rearrange and try again. As you get into a rhythm that’s right for you, you’ll find that your day flows well from one activity to the rest.

And remember to take short breaks from activity throughout the day. Stop, breathe, stretch, be grateful. This will help you stay focused and eager to move throughout your day.

Your rhythm can be as structured or as flexible as you want.

Here’s an example of a more structured daily rhythm:

7:00am – 8:00am: Wake up, devotion, exercise, get dressed

8:00am – 8:30am: Breakfast and clean-up

8:30am – 10am: Create/play

10:00-10:30am: Snack

10:30pm – 11:30pm: Chores

11:30-12:00: Lunch & clean up

12:00-1:00pm: Enjoy outdoors

1:00-3:00pm: Reading/Naps

3:00pm-3:30pm: Snack

3:30pm-4:30: Internet time

4:30pm-5:15pm: Dinner prep

5:15pm-5:45pm: Dinner

5:30pm-6:00pm: Clean up

6:00pm-6:30pm: Walk

7:00pm-7:30pm: Read with kids, bedtime routing

7:30pm-8:30pm: Kid bedtime

8:30pm-10:30pm: Time with husband/reading

10:30pm: Lights out

And here’s one with the same kind of flow, but less structured:

Wake early

Drink tea and read devotional/inspiring material

Exercise for 30 minutes

Eat

Clean up

Engage with family

Create/Write

Chores

Eat

Clean Up

Read – personal and school

Play with family

Enjoy outdoors

Internet time

Eat

Clean up

Walk

Read with kids

Kids bedtime

Time alone with husband

Bed by 10:30

Which one works best for you?

Nina Nelson is a mama, wife and student midwife. She writes at Shalom Mama where she helps others live more intentionally. Please visit her site to learn, be inspired and get a free copy of her new action guide, Bring Your Passion to Life – Get Out of the Rut and Get What You Want.

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Karla Urwitz

As a full-time career oriented mother of one, I love all things travel. I was in the hospitality business for 15 years and loved it. So why not become a travel agent. I have been a travel agent since 2019 and enjoy helping others make memories. Now I am finding a balance between work, travel, and life.

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