Beating Burnout, Finding Balance

CHAPTER 9ON BALANCE

This may sound obvious, but finding balance in the various areas of your life will help you improve your overall health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, balance is not always easy to attain. When life gets busy with a big project, for example, it can bring you off balance in other areas of your life. You might neglect your wellbeing due to high work demands or other factors that inhibit this balance. When you create time to prioritise yourself and pay attention to your body's needs, your health and wellbeing will be restored, even during challenging periods of your life. This chapter will explore simple ways to reclaim your balance and live more mindfully and intentionally in your life.

Koh Tao, Thailand

After spending about two and a half years cycling, trekking and travelling around the world, mostly in developing countries, I was getting a bit tired of regularly falling sick. I was exhausted and not enjoying travelling anymore. I was also drained from the noise and pollution of the many chaotic cities I had visited, so I decided to take a break and head to Thailand for a rest.

I rented a straw beach hut on a small island called Koh Tao for about $2 a night for a few weeks. I just wanted to lie in a hammock for a while. I shared the hut with a large gecko, who sat on the wall near my bed keeping the bugs under control. I named him Henry and gratefully welcomed him as my mosquito-munching companion given my previous experience ...