How I Manage My (Im)Perfectly Balanced Life

When I am introduced, I am often referred to as Heidi Powell?Co-Host and Transformation Specialist on?Extreme Weight Loss, wife of Chris Powell, and mother of four.powell224

Yes, all three of these things are full-time jobs, but they are far from my only roles. Realistically, those are only 3 of my 10-20 jobs I fulfill every single day. I KNOW I?m not the only one who wears 1,000 hats everyday and somehow manages to?stay sane. (I?ll be the first to say, some days I?m NOT sane).

You may have 2-3 main roles that identify you, but in reality, we have a gazillion people we need to be just to make the world go ?round. I mean?how many of you reading this are moms? If you are (or even if you aren?t, you?ve most likely been around kids so you can hopefully get this), you know that being a MOM is more than just a full-time job. It?s an?around the clock?job, and it?s one that demands every last bit of energy, patience, and multi-tasking that we can muster up.

Moms?we are AWESOME. Virtual high fives to anyone and everyone who keeps kids alive, fed, and (mostly) happy…all in a days? work. Some days, we overachieve and actually feel like we deserve a pat on the back. Other days, we are thankful there are no secret surveillance cameras in our homes to document our downright AWFUL parenting moments.

And please tell me I?m not the only one who starts sweating at the?thought?of secret cameras in my house.?But this begs the question I get asked ALL too often: How on EARTH do you balance family, work, and your own fitness?

_jp_0215hires

Here?s the truth: Sometimes I don?t. Plain and simple. Sometimes I SUCK at balance, the same way you might feel you do. While my “balance” has improved much over the years and I have days I feel like I am “killing life” (in a good way), there are many times?I don’t??do life? as well as I wish I did. It destroys me when I lay in bed at night and think of the many ways I may have let my family down, or mis-prioritized something that needed more attention. BUT…I?ve come to accept that I will NEVER balance life perfectly. I give myself grace and remind myself how I can do better the next day.

2016-02-29-16-37-25

We are all human. Yes, I am too. I struggle and cry over spilled milk. I get caught in my own head occasionally?most often after too much time spent on social media looking at every other woman?s seemingly perfectly balanced life.

If you can always remember these THREE things, you can say goodbye to emotional struggle and hello to more joy:

  1. Stop comparing: When we compare our reality with another woman?s highlight reel on social media, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment and self-deprication. We will NEVER live up to that illusion we see so many people creating from their false “Happily Ever Afters.” And that?s not to say life isn?t beautiful for some, but behind every seemingly-perfect Instagram account is a whole load of baggage and struggle in that individual?s life. MYSELF INCLUDED!!!! If we only knew what the most put together Instagram mommy was dealing with, we would no doubt happily stay in our shoes… with our struggles… and our successes. And PS: Please keep in mind that EVERY SINGLE PIC in this post is the product of a professional photo shoot. Meaning we had someone styling and dressing us, doing our hair and make up, and then most likely touching it up in Photoshop to make it look better than in actuality. Truth!?So don’t get discouraged…my everyday real life doesn’t look even close to this!!
  2. Discover your gifts: What is it that YOU love to do and excel at? Again, the trouble with social media is that you are not only looking at ONE person?s highlight reel, but the BEST talents and gifts of every person you follow any time you sit down and flip through your phone. Say you follow 100 people. You are seeing 100 different talents, 100 different skills, 100 different husbands, and 100 different levels of success. We have to remember that these are each ONE person and you are just ONE person. Try to focus in on the positives in your life and on your blessings and the things that bring you joy and stay focused on those things…not what you wish you had or what you?think?you need to be happy.
  3. Use your gifts to serve others: This is the most profound of all. If you seek to be served by others, you will always be disappointed. If you seek to SERVE others, you will always be fulfilled. Take your focus off of yourself and use your time and talents to serve and care for those around you.

Are you with me? Let?s cut ourselves some slack and realize we will most likely NEVER find that so-called ?perfect balance? that we all dream about, so simply do your best to prioritize tasks without elevating this idealistic status. Maybe your goal for the day is to occupy your kids with crafts for an hour while you work out without interruption. Maybe it?s making 3-5 square meals a day with organic fruits and veggies picked straight from your backyard garden. It could even be carefully crafting Pinterest-worthy treats for your kids? lunches that you will later post on Pinterest because you are?that?good at balancing time! And if you’re anything like me, your goal is just to make it through the day with minimal breakdowns (from the kids AND myself).

powell221

But just remember that you cannot do EVERYTHING. For this reason alone, ?balance? is your own to find. It?s an art, not a science.

Xoxo,

Heidi

Related reading:

I Am (Still) Perfect
#MomLife: 11 Hacks for Getting Fit
I Am (Not) a Pinterest Mom
Love Who You Are

45 Responses

  1. Dear Heidi, I have loved reading this blog post. I am expecting my 3rd child and am getting nervous on how I’m going to balance my 8 and 6 year old girls plus a baby. You have some amazing ways on here thank you for sharing your life and helping so many people!!

  2. Hi Heidi. I really enjoy the information I am learning from you. I work in the middle of the night and because of my daytime schedule with my children and babysitting my neice I only sleep 2-3 hours most night. This obviously isn’t ideal but not something I can change right now. I enjoy working out and try my best to eat healthy. I know my body is holding onto excess fat because the stress I have put on it with my lack of sleep. I am just wondering if you have any suggestions on what and how much I should eat while I work at night. Or any other recommendations on how to stay healthy in my situation

  3. I love you two, l wish I could be fit like you but I have sooner handicapped left over by a horseback riding accident 15 years ago. Would you ever consider training me? I want to be strong and have a flat stomach, but my insufficiency plays a big roll in how I work out, it is a challenge for trainers.

    I would be honored to have you train me to make me the best l can be.

    Linda

    1. Hi Linda: Chris and Heidi truly wish they could train everyone, but they’re not taking on clients at this time. But you can achieve your transformation goals through their carb cycling program, and you can learn about it in this post: https://heidipowell.net/9060. And be sure and follow all the links within the post too. It’s also important to discuss any nutrition and exercise program with your healthcare team first and then follow any modifications they recommend for your health issues. You can do this!

  4. Hi! I’ve joined the Americas Fittest Couple Chalenge. There is a group on Facebook where we can support each other. The thing is…. there’s a Heidi Lane Powell who is giving info an answering questions. I just want to make sure that’s really her (or her team) giving info. I’m not convinced it is….

  5. Hi Heidi. Most times, balance for me is doubling up my workouts a couple of days a week. I am wondering since i am doing extreme transformation, is this appropriate? I need 7 hrs of cardio per week. Two of the days i do double cardio workouts. Can i compress my workout days to count towards my 7 hrs for the week on the program?? Will it still work?? Instead of doing 5 days of 1 hr/day and day before reset doing 2 hrs??? Could i do two days with double cardio and then 5 days with 1 hr cardio? Im very close to maintenance and im thinking of mixing it up once im there. Thanks!!

    1. Hi Cindy: Yes, if this what works for you, then it’s totally okay! And congratulations on getting close to maintenance – that’s awesome!

  6. What a beautifully descriptive reality of all of us moms (and dads) out there! It can be too easy to assume TV personalities have it all together with their perfect hair, teeth, body, energy, family life, income, etc. but the truth is we are ALL a work in progress and we must BATHE in grace daily??

  7. Dear Heidi,

    I think God Created Mothers to be Awesome! He created Women to be able to Multitask much better than us Men! If Men had to do what Women do in keeping balance in the home and work our Minds would be fried real quick. Just think of the Movie “Mr. Mom” with Michael Keaton.

    I also would like to say I really envy what you have been blessed with: a Good Spouse and Beautiful Family! When I was growing up I wrote down at age 12 that I wanted to Marry a Good Woman, have some children and a Home in the Country!

    Sadly, I am divorced twice with no Children: my first ex wife had a Miscarriage. So, technically I am a Father; but at close to 50 years old now that Dream is gone!

    Keep doing the wonderful job that you do, Heidi with your Family! I hope your Husband truly blesses with much Care, Affection, Love, Understanding, etc : because he is one very Blessed guy! There are tons of men in this country who would kill to be in his situation! Some of us had Life give us a Beating!

    I am Saved, a Believer, in Christ Jesus the Lord My Savior: so I am Truly Blessed despite all the Rest; but without a Doubt a Man to have a Good Wife and Children is what I believe Completes the Circle that God the Father intended for the World to be!

    In His Love and Grace, a Fan of you and your family who also Glorify the Lord;
    Michael Anthony

  8. Thank you SO much for this post! I think the Lord knew I really needed to read it this morning. Thanks for being so real and honest. Thankful for wonderful, strong, real and inspiring women like you. ????

  9. I love this SO much! You are so right and the more you compare the harder you are on yourself! Meaning me, I am so hard on myself when I follow and see what people I know are doing or “seem” to be doing better then me! I love following your blog, you make me smile and I love all your tips and how real you are! Keep it up! ?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.