Balance is one of the core factors that these Falls Prevention classes target because loss of physical balance is a common falls risk factor.
I have found it useful to understand the factors that influence physical balance, and I think they apply well to the concept of work-life balance too.
WOBBLES ARE GOOD
Stuart explains to his clients that balance in our body isn’t a static thing. It’s good if the clients wobble a bit during the exercises because that helps improve the body’s ability to adjust for the wobble.
The key with physical balance is that it’s not achieved in a perfect state of flat surfaces where there is never any challenge to our stability.
Physical balance only happens when we have a little wobble, and we recover from it. It’s constantly changing and requires that we are always paying attention and responding to the environment.
That is true balance, and it is this ability that helps the body prevent falls.
Work-life balance is the same: it’s not a destination,
it’s a journey (another cliche!). It requires us to readjust and recalibrate as our life circumstances change regularly.
Our life and work will never be 100% smooth and easy. There will always be obstacles and challenges, stressful events and tricky situations. At times, there will be heartache and loss, too.
If life were perfect, we wouldn’t need work-life balance to begin with.
As the Buddhists say, ‘The obstacle is the path.’
As difficult as it is, it is useful to remember that the very act of responding to these life and work ‘wobbles’ is how we create balance.
DIFFERENTIATION FOR GROWN UPS
There’s another vital factor to look at when creating any kind of balance, and it is one that most educators are familiar with: differentiation.
In our classrooms, we know that differentiation is critical: wherever possible, teachers strive to take into account each individual’s unique needs, abilities and preferences.