Written by Amy Kida, Integrative Bodywork Therapist
Amy Kida is known for her ability to listen to the body and feel disruptions on many cellular levels. She is the owner of Earth 2 Soul, a multi-use therapy facility located in upstate NY. A place to receive bodywork, explore art therapy workshops, Yoga classes, community conversations classes and learn about multi-level healing/self-care.
That’s a loaded statement and probably even more packed with emotions than we care to disclose. We choose our personal time management, but that doesn’t negate all the outside factors. It’s a juggling act that has changing dynamics. Our days can depend on other people, affected by changes in the weather, financial status, health issues, and personal responsibilities, the list can be long. Many things can shift your well-being out of balance, but how do we even get to a sense of balance? No matter what’s on the list and how many things you juggle, one fact remains the same you. It’s how you feel the balance in your life that matters. To maximize harmony, we need to address the 5 basic contributing factors.
1. Personal: Body/mind/soul
This is all about you, your responsibility, your self-control, your goals, your feelings. It’s all you. The effort you put in equals the results you earn, and it’s not an overnight achievement. It takes dedication, prioritizing your self-care, and how much time you dedicate to maintaining your well-being. The body is a machine that performs best with a balanced diet, regular exercise, daily sunlight exposure, and rest. What foods are you eating? When? Is it a struggle to make meals or to get to the store? Meal planning and having things prepared are key to healthy diet success, and diet doesn’t mean losing weight. Diet in its true definition of food consumed. Whether the intention is to watch cholesterol, manage sugar, avoid sensitivities, etc., the concept is a planned approach. You can use grocery pickups, meal delivery services, and/or schedule a specific meal prep time for yourself- these are all options. You need to plan your time accordingly and allow your schedule to include time dedicated to organizing healthy food. How much are you moving and utilizing the muscles in your body? Are you stretching, do you take walks, do you have a breathing routine? How often do you consciously take a deep breath just to connect within? Are you getting up with the sun and using that natural resource to set your circadian rhythm? How often do you let your skin feel the UV rays mid-day for a dose of vitamin D? Do you go to bed before midnight? Again, this will help set your circadian rhythm and allow your body to enter a REM sleep. An average adult should get 7 hours of sleep a night, do not underestimate the value of sleep and allow your body to rest, heal, and reset for the new day to come. The mind can be our greatest gift or our worst enemy. Be real about your mental status! What’s going on in your head? Are you struggling with trauma, childhood situations, stress, heartache, grief, loneliness, or FOMO (fear of missing out, thanks to social media!)
Whatever it may be, acknowledge it, own it, and start the journey to achieve peace with it. Talk it out, breathe it out, sweat it out, massage or needle it out. Seek and accept professional help. There are endless opportunities for therapy; you can work with someone or process on your own again, this responsibility is yours. You will need time to process, acknowledge, own, and sort out emotions. Allow yourself time to heal. There is no deadline for healing and growing. The soul is the feeling deep down within. It’s that “in your core” or “to the bone” sensation on a cellular level that has undefined space within your human being. What brings you joy and innate pleasure? These are the things you do because they make you feel complete. They satisfy a craving within you that is personal to you. Reading, writing, volunteering, gardening, crafting, gaming, music. The opportunities are endless. Take the time to “feed” your soul, let it grow, and adapt to the changes and opportunities around you. Try new things, continue with pleasurable things, and be okay when you outgrow things. Our souls evolve with time and staying true to our genuine self is a level of honoring self-respect.
2. Finances
Balancing the finances of today, planning for tomorrow, and preparing for the future is all a best effort because the future is still unknown. No one can tell you exactly how it will play out. Having a relationship with a financial advisor, you trust can help set you up for what may come later in life. Do you make more $ than you spend, are you comfortable with your debt-to- income ratio? Having a budget, a savings plan, and goals will be vital in the aging process. The way you manage and spend your money can be a huge factor in your mental well-being and daily stress levels. Resist falling in love with money, it can buy you many things, but happiness is not one of them.
3. Home
The space that surrounds you, the place where you feel safe and comfortable. The Feng Shui (in simplified words- energy movement) that surrounds you and has an energetic impact on you. Clean your space, organize clutter, get rid of things that you no longer need, don’t want, or don’t fit physically/mentally with the phase of life you are in. Decorations in your home should be a reflection of your likes and consist of items and colors that make you feel good feelings! Be realistic about the furniture and what fits the space. Go through closets and get rid of items that no longer have a purpose. Finish renovations and home improvement projects. Don’t let unfinished projects linger! As life evolves so do our personal needs and wants, take time to keep your home up to date with where you are in life.
4. People
“You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family” Whether you choose friends, family, or a mix of both to surround yourself, choose to be with people who lift you. Give some space to those who put you down. You don’t need that energy. Seriously you don’t need it, it’s okay to let go. There is a difference between people who speak the truth and those who are negative, narcissistic, and degrading. Your circle may get smaller before it gets bigger. Weed out the personalities that do not bring you joy. Time is precious, fill the minutes in life with people that are healthy for you.
5. Outside of our control
No matter where you are in life there will always be obstacles, things that are out of your control. Being able to acknowledge what you can control and what you cannot is the first step to acceptance. Accepting the things you cannot change will help you maintain balance and refocus your limited energy. Focusing on the positive leaves less room and time for negativity.
Balance is an active effort that you feel, and it shifts with life and circumstances. Even the steadiest waves in the ocean have a way of processing the storms sent their way. Ultimately having balance in your daily living is the optimal goal and your responsibility. Make your life a priority! Give yourself time to plan for healthy habits and the things that make life healthier, and talk to the professionals who can advise you with therapy and planning. Surround yourself with people and items that make you feel good and be honest about your needs. Be okay with letting things go physically and mentally. It is not selfish to make your well-being a priority in your life, it’s your responsibility.
Read more from Amy Kida
Amy Kida, Integrative Bodywork Therapist
Amy Kida is a licensed massage therapist, with 25+ years’ experience in bodywork and energy movement. Amy can palpate rhythms and disruptions in the body that correlate with muscular, visceral, craniosacral and fascia systems. In addition, she has training in reflexology, aromatherapy, somatic emotional release, Feng Shui and more! Her years of experience and training allow her to touch and listen to the body, she is a master in her field of intuition and touch communication.
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