The Balancing Act is not an Urban Legend
I used to do power lifting many moons ago. I was a Hatha Yoga instructor. And I jumped off a plane ten times in one week. The last skydiving stint was part of a reconnaissance mission to see if being a Tandem Skydiving instructor in New Zealand was for me, or not. Now more than a decade later, notable traits I’ve kept from those pre-children chapters of my life include: being methodic, process orientated, meticulous and obsessive to the point of being cajoled as having OCD. I’m also a calculated risk-taker.
Yes, I possess a few necessary ingredients they deem as requirements to being a successful entrepreneur. (But sadly no, I didn’t win power lifting competitions, launch a set of ‘Yoga For You’ videos, nor did I become a skydiving instructor after all those jumps). However, I did find my Balancing Act early days, and I’ve managed to keep at it ever since. I’m not alone in this and cite some of the remarkable entrepreneurial heroes I met over the last 2 years.
First things, first: Find the one activity you will stick with.
Now creatively embellish it over time.
Let’s face it. Every entrepreneur has found that ONE idea that lodged itself so perfectly in their minds. Why else take the leap to becoming a startup? Equally when it comes to the balancing act, find something that sticks.
Examples below, and just for fun I’ve gone from tame to extreme.
These 5 basic storified principles have been essential to me throughout many changes in my life and I hope they help you, too:
1. Set an alarm and respect it.
(a.k.a. Don’t forget the basics today, or for the rest of the year)
Let’s call this the overarching rule. An alarm is not just that noise that gets you started in the morning. We could be talking about a daily alarm so you don’t forget to eat at regular times. Or a monthly alarm to remind yourself to have dinner at home with friends (or a night out dancing if you were so inclined).
Alarms work. When you master the suite of alarms available to you, and more importantly your reaction to it, then you are on the precipice of change. Taking control of your Balancing Act can start with small changes.
Find an alarm that works for you, but have one: whether it’s on your smartphone, a calendar on the wall, or a diary. The trick is to respect the sound of it as and when.
2. On your feet, soldier. Just walking is for sissies.
(a.k.a. Walking clears your mind, Power Walking can do wonders)
Walking and going somewhere without jumping into a car or train is always possible. Don’t argue with me, it is always possible. Large chunks of time taken over by a sedentary lifestyle of laptop time and desk loitering will make it appear like you have no time to do this, but it’s a trick. It is procrastination peddling as “too busy”. It is always possible to sneak in a 15 to 20 minute walk to and from your laptop.
Olay Vitler, co-founder of I Want a Car App is an entrepreneur with a penchant for disrupting everything, even her own sense of routine. She was working a full-time job while co-founding her StartUp: “I break up my work in 3 hour chunks and force myself to do it, like clockwork. When it’s time to walk, I’d do a proper Power Walk.”
…If you take public transport, you will already be walking. Here’s an instant upgrade to your daily task: Walk faster. If you don’t feel your heart change a beat somewhat, you are walking too slow. Speed it up, and as you do so, do a bit of Isometrics. Nothing fancy here, this is all it is: take every stride with purpose, maybe throw your leg out as far as it will go, and pick them up a bit from the ground (never EVER dragging). This creates an effort that will effectively help clench your glutes ever so slightly, allowing you to feel your leg stride and backside muscles accentuate naturally as you walk.
Isometrics when done correctly strengthens your body frame and general constitution. Get that adrenaline going at a constant rather than sporadic rate, and your body’s natural desire to keep its balance will kick in.
3. Ever fancied being on wheels?
(a.k.a. Do something you’ve always wanted to do)
Skateboards are largely regarded as a teenager thing, but rollerblading — now this can be an old or new joy to revisit. Walking is wonderful. Seeing visuals that vary from your office ceiling and walls frees your inner creativity. There are very few sports quite like rollerblading, and I tell you: wheels on feet can be very liberating. And thus look upon it, if you will, as next-level walking. Why not?
The feeling of gliding and getting somewhere is awesome (as opposed to gliding and going around in circles, as you normally would via ice skates). So the movement itself is therapeutic. If you want to be quite clinical about it, rollerblading requires balance. Now flipping this balance ‘light switch’ in your head can do absolute wonders for your actual Balancing Act.
And then of course there’s the necessity of overcoming the Fear of The Fall.
Ask any sociologist and that’s half the battle. Enough said.
But you need not fall, not on rollerblades anyway. YouTube is rife with the basics, as well as refresher courses if it’s been ages since you had wheels where your shoes should be. Give it a go in a nearby park. My first advice on this is learn how to stop. Everything else gets easier. (Just like working — Are you getting the theme here?)
4. Embark on a bit of Urban Exploration
(a.k.a. Venture to explore and enjoy the city you live in)
Now this bit can be quite widely discussed. Exploring the city you live in is an amazingly simple way to decompress. Living in a city like London, I feel fortunate to have the chance to experience everything from Theatre and Concerts, to Interactive Art Installations and hundreds of festivals. It’s not difficult to do this, whatever city you call home.
A good friend of mine, Alex Frodsham, is Customer Service Director of a fast-growing Tech Track 100 company. His adventures range from Digital Revolution in Barbican just a few metres from his office, to Chelsea Flower Show just outside of London. To the latter he has gone for years and years, like an annual ritual. He has seen it grow over recent years from one that features elaborate garden hedges, to being an avenue for Design students who created an elaborate indoor garden called “Mind’s Eye” which marries up a garden with glass cube and tactile sensory features.
As with others who do such ritualistic explorations, Alex takes these types of experiences back with him on a Monday morning. From it he gains a renewed sense of living and working in such a cool city. He shared: “…It frees your mind enough to walk and breathe in the city where your work is actually being created.”
When deadline-stricken, a lot of us will tend to send one last email before dinner, one final touch to the report or strategy document before sleeping. Exploring your city or making day trips is not going to set you back. “Perspective is never as sweet as when you think of it outside the desk and office periphery.”
5. Climb. We actually all want to, deep inside…
(a.k.a. Always have something to aspire to)
If like me you grew up climbing trees, then you know the thrill of it. Trees seem sparse, or even off-limits to the average city person. But if you can, climb one every so often, with or without an alarm. It is primal and liberating.
…Alternatively, there are always stairs. And stairmasters. Every single time you come across stairs, speed up the climb, try taking two steps at a time, even on escalators (not standing on the right side like sheep). It’s eternally more satisfying.
By far my favourite story is that of Paul Cox, a CTO I’ve known for years who has the everyday high pressure of teams and technology coming from every angle. He eats stress for breakfast and is one of the most productive, innovative and genuine people you’ll ever meet. He recently climbed Mont Blanc, and has conquered other mountains and massive rocks all over the world. He also goes indoor rock climbing three times a week.
This means wake up calls at ungodly hours on climb days; and taking 6 tube rides instead of 2 or 3. Scheduling such a passion around his other passions (personal and work ones) is a mammoth of a job, I thought. Thus I asked him: Do you end up solving challenges or get magical insights while doing a climb? Paul answers: “…Nope. When I climb, it’s all about the climb.”
Fancy that. He turns off spreadsheets, challenges, tech dramas and all; and it is all about The Climb. Brilliant. Something to aspire to in taking your Balancing Act to new heights (Sorry).
So there’s five, off the top of my head. I do all of these and more, always challenging myself; as well as friends and loved ones when I can. I guess it all goes full circle to a mindset change first and foremost.
I’d really like to hear about yours. How do you keep The Balancing Act?
Although I could write about all things digital from a fair few years of industry experience, I prefer to write about the #MindsetOverMatter realm with topics that remain a common thread throughout my ‘separate’ lives as Kristina digital strategist, VJ, and part-time ninja. Please do get in touch if keen to collaborate on any blogs about entrepreneurial journeys, expat life and global startup trends.
Originally published at www.linkedin.com on September 21, 2014.
