A Work Life Balance

They say you must surround yourself around people you aspire to become. My Chiropractor, Dr Adrian Couzner from Chirosports is one of those people. He has his bases covered in all areas of his life and has simultaneously managed to work out the perfect 'Work Life Balance'.  Adrian just launched a Facebook page dedicated to just this, he aims to inspire and empower people to take control and achieve this. I am intrigued by this concept and I decided to ask Adrian a few questions about it!

What are your top 3 tips for a good work life balance?

1. Find a vocation rather than a job, that way work is never about at ends to a means, it’s about your calling.
2. Have a values list and live according to your values  That way, life will feel completely congruent.
3. Health is everything, without it, nothing else matters.  So work on it!!

What are your suggestions for a stressed or overworked person?

•  Come to terms with the fact that somewhere deep inside it makes you feel important, significant and needed to be that overworked/stressed.

•  Make sure you look after your health.  Sleep, energy and your immune system will be the first to suffer if you don’t invest in your health.

• Spend time doing things that connect you with your values, that way you will feel more inspired and energised to get back to work.

•  Get yourself a mentor, someone who can guide you through this patch. (check out my facebook page Work Life Balance).

 What are your tips for a successful marriage?

• Share similar morals, beliefs and values.

• Communication is the key.

• Be a better listener.

• Have fun, make each other laugh.

• Kids come second, partner comes first.

Is there someone in your life who inspires you with their work life balance?

I think positively or negatively we develop our perspective on the world firstly from our parents.  I was lucky enough to have amazing parents as my role models.  As much as they both had professional careers, I always felt like they were there for us and that they weren’t slaves to the 9-5 routine (that’s what we called it in the 80’s).  My parents juggled with ease their work, family, sports, friendships and most importantly their relationship.

How do you recalibrate?

There is nothing like kids to bring you back to the real world.  

A few short minutes can bring you back into focus real quick.  But for those who don’t have kids, I think you need to rely on your values list and do things that connect you with your values.  That way you are living to your highest purpose.  For some that is health, family/loved ones and for others it’s travel.

Where is your favourite travel destination?

That is a hard one…..I’d have to say Greece.  It has amazing scenery, history and culture.  They love family and food, which are very important to me.  They also have picturesque islands and beaches, where life is all about the simple important pleasures.  

Tell me about a time where you followed your heart and went against grain.

My career was taking off and I decided to take a break from work and go on a 6 month adventure with my new girlfriend (now wife, Simone).  My head was telling me to continue building and establishing myself in the Chiropractic world, but my heart was telling me to go have some fun.  Often we are crippled by our thoughts of what we are losing, rather than the potential for gain.  Despite not working for 6 months and spending all the money I had saved, it solidified my relationship with Simone and well the rest is history as far as that is concerned!!  It by no way slowed my financial success either and it definitely broadened my horizons.  The heart is always right!!

More about Adrian...

Dr Adrian Couzner has been a Chiropractor for 20 years and more recently a Work Life Balance advocate.  He runs 2 successful Chirosports clinics and the facebook page, Work Life Balance.  He is a husband and father to 4 children, Finn, Ocea, Cy and Tay.  He originates from South Australian and now resides on Sydney’s North Shore. 

Those closest to him have looked on with envy as he juggled running 2 Chiropractic clinics (himself consulting with over 140 clients per week), managing his family commitments and still approaching life with a calm, yet energetic passion.

For more information on Dr Adrian Couzner, go to www.chirosports.com.au or on Facebook. 

Ignoring the FOMO

So I have mentioned before, I am a modern-day gypsy, I love change - actually I thrive in times of change. I also find these times incredibly taxing. No matter how many times I have moved houses, jobs or travelled from place to place, the idea of change enlivens me, the process of it can stress me, the novelty of a new change really opens up my world but then...I crash. Maybe the novelty wears off a bit and this is where I am at right now. I am in the midst of living in the shade of grey. There are so many possibilities of where I could go next. My head is busy. Although I am feeling exhausted, my head is toying with the many possibilities and options I could pursue until the early hours of the morning. I may be relying a little too much on caffeine to keep me fuelled. I may be trying to distract myself a little to much and not allowing myself to really feel what I need to feel.

Yesterday, a dear friend sent me a link to this article, by Sara Rodriguez that really spoke to me:

"Some might see her as cold and distant, because she needs a significant amount of alone time to keep her from feeling scattered and spread so thin that she disappears. Sure, she has family and friends with whom she loves to spend much of her time, but it’s in her nature to crave those precious hours of solitude—being only with her thoughts, completely alone in a crowd or in the vastness of a quiet scene".

As an introverted being, I totally relate to this. My alone time, is my time to recharge and recalibrate...I have been getting better and better in giving myself time to do this. Yet, I also find that I can get easily caught up in being everywhere, knowing everything and doing everything. It catches up. I hate missing out on things. Yes, I did open up this paragraph telling you I am an introvert, but that doesn't mean I don't also enjoy my social gatherings. The problem is though, when I try and be everywhere, know everything and do everything, I end up running on empty.

Maybe missing out on things can be a good thing too...

Many people have asked me in the past if I grew up in the country. In many ways I did - suburban/country though. During my trip to and from primary school, I saw cows, rolling hills, tractors, farmers. It was no concrete jungle. It's easy to get caught up in life when you get older. So after reading that article about the need for solitude. After work, I decided to go for a run in the most beautiful, picturesque park down the road to energise me. I ran in the rain amongst the rolling hills from my primary school days and it made me feel alive. I headed back home and for the first time decided not to blast Spotify. I am writing right now to the sound of a multitude of cicadas, a few light planes flying overhead and the distant noise of the sounds of the church nearby. It is so peaceful. So uncomplicated.  So what I need right now.  So while life is happening and there are many things I could be doing or reading up on, I am happy just being. Being in my own company (and the cicadas too).

The in-between

I am writing this right now at the dining table back at Mum and Dad's. Today I packed my beachside studio up and moved my belongings back home. Again. My family have gone to Europe, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to not be renting for a bit. I came here with such mixed feelings. I really grew to love the area I was living in, walking distance to the beach, close to friends. All I need to do is just see the ocean when I am waiting at my bus stop in the morning and my day is set. Life was good. Especially over the past summer.

But, I have also been itching for a change of space. That is no real surprise to me, I have moved a lot over the past few years. My family don't live close to the seaside at all, so I really wasn't sure if this was the best decision. I realised today as I started settling in, this is just where I need to be. Although, it feels so bizarre that there is no-one around to chit chat with, it doesn't feel like an empty house at all. It is my sanctuary. Always has been. This place has seen Mum and Dad as a young couple, till now having had us four girls grow into women. I had such a peaceful afternoon siesta, did my yoga outside and watered the garden. It actually feels like a retreat. It is quiet, all I hear is the sound of the birds chirping. I forgot how peaceful it can be here.

I plan to use this time to reassess, recalculate and also get back on track with life. After a crazy kick start to 2014, it feels like it is time to take a step back, somewhat of a 'quasi-hiatus'.

Having studied Ayurveda extensively and knowing how season changes can really shake me up - especially during this time of year. Changes can spin me into a whirlwind and I often start to feel pangs of anxiety about the year ahead. I know that this is time for grounding and to start up some new routines to make this in-between, grey period feel manageable.

I know by the end of this little pitt stop, things will be clearer. I really don't know what is next, I have ideas of what could be next! I have a love/hate relationship with the unknown, but I would rather put myself in these moments of icky, in-between, then to settle into life that doesn't nurture me to continue to grow.