A few weeks ago, on a Wednesday afternoon, I found myself staring at the calendar on my phone while riding the subway. My week had been so crowded that I had forgotten an important work meeting, rescheduled lunch with an old friend three times, and couldn’t even remember the last time I had made myself a cup of tea. Right at that moment, a middle-aged woman sat next to me and said tiredly, “No matter how hard I try, between work, home, and the kids, nothing seems to be in its right place.” I could only nod. That same night, I decided to truly figure out what this whole “harmony and balance in daily life” that everyone talks about could actually look like in practice.
The Story of My Three-Line List
The first step I took was very simple: the next morning, before doing anything else, I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down only the three things that really mattered to me. Not the things others expected of me. Then I understood that planning isn’t just about checking boxes; it’s about recognizing which task to do first thing in the morning when I have fresh energy. Now, almost every day, I identify three main tasks and leave the rest for later (1). That same week, I also tried the Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of focused work and 5 minutes of rest. I couldn’t believe how much those 5 minutes of calm helped bring order to my life (2).
Saying “No” to the Person I Saw in the Mirror
One day, a colleague asked me to take on an extra project. I wanted to help, but my calendar was full. I told myself this was exactly the boundary I needed to learn. For the first time, I politely said, “Not right now, I’m sorry.” Strangely, not only did nothing bad happen, but I felt I had respected myself (3). Now, every morning, I set a specific time limit for checking email and social media. After 8 p.m., I put my phone on do-not-disturb mode. These simple boundaries gradually turned into fresh energy for myself.
When I Welcomed Myself as a Guest at Home
Until a few months ago, I thought self-care was a luxury. But one night, when I couldn’t sleep out of sheer exhaustion, I realized that this imbalance was probably harming my body. From that night on, I made at least 7 hours of sleep sacred for myself. I started a daily walk while listening to a light podcast, and even learned to take a few deep breaths during the busiest moments of the day (4). These small physical changes affected my mood in a different way.
I Made a Pact with My Friends to Be Phone-Free
I used to think that connecting meant quickly replying to messages. But one day, a friend told me, “You listen, but you don’t really try to understand me.” Those words stayed with me. Gradually, I practiced just listening when someone spoke to me, without already knowing my answer (5). Now, every week, I spend one evening phone-free, sharing a meal with family or a few close friends. It’s strange: the more I thought about others, the more time and energy I found for myself.
One Page from a Spiritual Book, One Cup of Tea
For a while, I imagined spirituality meant lots of rituals and formalities. But one morning, before starting work, I spent just a few quiet minutes with myself and thanked wholeheartedly for my simple blessings. This daily practice of “gratitude” gave me such a good feeling that gradually I added praying and reading one page from my favorite spiritual book to my daily routine (6). I realized that this connection with something beyond daily routine creates such balance that hardships become more bearable.
When I Drew a “Plan B”
With all these plans, it still happens that suddenly everything falls apart. Last week, my car broke down, a project was delayed, and I felt myself getting angry again. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that balance means the ability to change course, not never falling down (7). From that day on, I always have an alternative plan in my pocket, and I try to learn a lesson from every mistake and failure. Today’s world is full of turbulence; the only thing within my control is my conscious response to these changes.
Sources
1. Tracy, B. (2017). Eat That Frog! Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
2. Cirillo, F. (2018). The Pomodoro Technique. Currency.
3. Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead. Random House.
4. Walker, M. (2017). Why We Sleep. Scribner.
5. Gottman, J. (2015). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. Harmony.
6. Emmons, R. (2007). Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. Houghton Mifflin.
7. Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner.
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