We live in a society that promotes a work hard get sh*t done attitude. It shouts it with billboards of athletes sweating orange and plasters it in glitter across coffee mugs and trendy office décor. We’ve programmed ourselves to function on four hours of sleep and triple shot lattes. We live our lives like it’s some version of a twelve-step program—go to high school to get into college to get a good job to support a family. Society literally tells us, through television ads, magazines, and social media, that we shouldn’t eat things like pie in favor of our figures. I say eat your pie. In fact, eat the whole pie. Every slice. Believe it or not, indulging in the whole pie leads to a completely balanced life.
1. Health
This first slice of the pie is an important one. Don’t leave any crumbs uneaten because you can’t accomplish anything if you’re unhealthy. This goes beyond the physical—which is satisfied by as little as thirty minutes of exercise a day and enjoying your fruits, veggies, and protein. A healthy mind is also an important part of living a balanced life. Spend time figuring out ways to relieve stress and anxiety—like meditation, making lists, and getting enough sleep. Remember to take care of your WHOLE self!
2. Work
We’ve been taught to prioritize our education and careers but this often leads to a lack of sleep and time for the things we enjoy, along with an added amount of stress. While this piece of the pie is important because it gives us something to work for and hopefully something to be passionate about, where it becomes an issue is if our appetite for it fills us up too much to enjoy the other slices.3. Social + Recreation
For most, this slice is the equivalent of double chocolate chip—often the most enjoyable and appetizing. Some of its ingredients include hobbies, friendships, and leisure activities. Each of these things requires time and energy out of your day. In moderation, they bring enjoyment, pleasure, and entertainment. However, when overindulged they can increase stress and loose some of their appeal. Make time to recharge and enjoy those important relationships in your life but like with work, don’t fill up on just one slice of pie. 4. Personal Development
Think of this piece as the flavor you always used to love and forgot exactly how much. It’s often overlooked and left uneaten but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. Motivation, self-esteem, personal values, and intellect are all qualities that require persistent improvement but add significantly to one’s overall happiness. Reading, studying, creating long and short-term goals, and promoting positivity are all ways to further develop those aspects of your life. 5. Family
A family doesn’t necessarily have to mean blood-related, it simply refers to that close inner group of people you spend the most time with and trust to be there for you through every high and low. They love, support, and encourage you to be your best self. This slice is all about making time for the people you love most. With time, things like college, careers, and families of your own, can make it more difficult to make this a priority but these relationships are really important and shouldn't be forgotten.6. Spirituality
When it comes to this last slice it’s easy to push it away with the excuse of being too full—to not have the time or energy for it. Being spiritual goes beyond religion and faith. It includes acting along you personal morals and ethics, finding what drives you (your purpose), and holding yourself accountable. Making time for silent meditation, prayer, or reflection are great ways to tap into your spiritual side and they contribute to stress relief as well.For more in-depth ways to live a balanced life, Buzzfeed has a nice offering of helpful graphics for relaxation and stress relief. There are also multiple worksheets where you can fill out your own pie-chart of life balance. Fill one in of your current situation and another of your ideal chart. Use them to work toward a more balanced life!
Or if you're just really hungry for some pie now, here's a few recipes. (Brownie Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Apple Pie)
