The ancient Greek tragedian Euripedes said that it is best and safest to keep a balance in one’s life. Some 2,500 odd years later, the need and importance of maintaining balance in our lives has not changed, but the challenges we face certainly have, and they seem to be growing at an exponential rate. There is, however, plenty of advice available and a range of tools and methods that may very well help us find that elusive state.

One proven method is the four-quadrant time management grid, notably mentioned in Steven Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and published here at Businessballs.com. Users find that the grid enables them to improve their balance and productivity, while showing them how to avoid activities that simply waste time and energy.

Neil Fiore, a productivity and success specialist, provides readers with a 7-point grid to create better balance in their lives, and advises placing one’s work in the context of life’s bigger picture. Another powerful tool used by life coaches that helps illustrate that context is the Wheel of Life and can be found at Mindtools.com. Users examine the different roles they fulfill (e.g., Friend, Parent, Community Leader, Manager, etc.) and grade how much attention they give to each to understand the current state of balance – or imbalance – in their lives.

Another great source is Dr. Henry Cloud, organisational counselor turned author who was recently interviewed in the Wall Street Journal about his latest book. “The One-Life Solution” explores today’s need to find balance between work and home life. One of Cloud’s strongest recommendations for people seeking balance is that they clarify their goals; he says that without a strong vision of what one truly wants, even all the time management tools in the world won’t be of much use.

If your taste runs more towards ancient wisdom, visit the online Chopra Center and take this quiz to discover which of the three ancient Ayurvedic types you are and to receive specific advice on how to create a better life balance. Or discover how research is proving a connection between exercising and thinking clearly at Productivity 501.

If indeed, as Pope John Paul II proclaimed, our truest obligation is to keep our balance as we tackle the precipices of life, then balance becomes not something we need to achieve our goals, but a worthy goal in and of itself.

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