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Life Balance

One of the trending topics nowadays is "work-life balance." However, I don’t subscribe to this term because work is an integral part of life. There shouldn't be a separation that isolates work from the rest of life; the two are intertwined.

Living with Purpose: Balancing Faith, Family, and Career

The essence of this discussion, though, is about finding balance among life's various spheres, which I want to share with you. Life's demands are many, but by organizing your priorities, you can find joy and fulfillment in your different roles and achieve more within the 24 hours we all have each day.

My inspirational scripture for juggling responsibilities is Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." In our own human power, we can't do much, but when connected to the source of power, Jesus Christ, we can achieve great things.

A. Establishing Priorities

You must have a vision and order your priorities based on that vision. My current priority list is:

1. God / Divine Connection (Life's anchor, providing purpose and guidance)
2. Spouse / Companionship (Sharing life experiences)
3. Children / Next Generation (Contributing to the future)
4. Work / Career / Professional Aspirations (Personal fulfillment, finances, contribution to society)
5. Others / Community Bonds: Relatives, friends, church service, ministry, etc. (Social fabric)

Ronald Kazibwe & Lucy Peace Nantume with their 4 children at a hike.

Putting Priorities into Practice:

God: Dedicate special time for your personal relationship with God. For me, this means starting my day with personal prayer. I also schedule couple prayer times, family prayer (with the children), and community prayers. Additional spiritual activities like reading spiritual books, pilgrimages, and retreats are also important.
Spouse: Set specific times for your spouse. Other engagements should not interfere with this time unless necessary. For instance, we use one vehicle to commute to and from work, allowing us to check in with each other. If a friend needs my time during this period, I politely decline unless it's urgent.
Children: When children have activities like school check-ins or speech days, they take priority over other commitments such as church service or social events, as they are higher on the priority list.

B. Invest in Yourself

Some call it "self-love," encompassing four main facets:

Mind: Continue learning through various resources. This is an information age—don’t just get entertained.
Body: Eat healthily, keep fit (even 10 minutes daily is better than nothing), get enough sleep, drink water, and avoid harmful substances.
Heart: Practice forgiveness, let go of negative emotions, avoid toxic environments, and engage in positive spaces.
Soul: Nourish it with the word of God, prayer, and the sacraments.

C. Be Organized

Life's demands are numerous, and disorganization leads to forgotten commitments. Keep a diary to schedule your engagements or hire an assistant if possible. Maintain an organized home and workspace to efficiently manage different aspects of your life.

D. Build and Maintain a Support System

Have friends or family to help with the children when needed and reciprocate the favor to strengthen bonds. It's okay to ask for help; we are meant to live in families and communities, not in isolation.

The Couple Binders with their sister and brother-in-law - support system

Lucy Peace with her sister- one of her supports

E. Allow for Flexibility

Despite careful planning, unexpected events like deaths will occur. Be prepared to adjust and adapt.

F. Embrace Life's Seasons

Recognize and embrace your current season of life, and work towards thriving in it. Each stage of life has different demands and should be approached accordingly. For example, a single person has different priorities compared to a married person, and a parent of young children will have a different schedule than one with grown children.

Conclusion

You are the driver of your life. Determine the gears to engage! We all have the same 24 hours in a day. How you utilize them is within your power.

May your life be fruitful and bring glory to God.

Lucy Peace Nantume

Lucy is a wife, mother, daughter, and friend striving to serve God with her whole life. She is a lawyer with expertise in human rights. Together with her husband, Ronald Kazibwe, they are passionate about helping couples to thrive in their marriages. They are “The Couple Binders.” Visit their website www.thecouplebinders.com for more details about them and what they do.

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