Let’s talk about balance in life

The other day I met up with a friend who’s studying politics at one of the best universities in Sweden. She mentioned how stressful it is, and how some people in her class stay up for 80 hours straight just to have the time to have the best grades, manage a job, represent a student group etcetera.

Recently I also met this girl who said she used to go to the gym every single day and never left before she had burned 1000 calories, no matter how exhausted she was.

I also recently discussed careers with my boyfriend since he’s considering becoming a lawyer but don’t know if he’ll manage working 60 hour weeks (that’s what’s expected from newly graduated lawyers).

All of this made me think about how easily people give up happiness and health in their life. If you ask anyone what their goal in life is, they would most likely answer “to be happy, of course”. We all just want to be happy. But at the same time we prioritize success, good looks and money above happiness and good health.

Obviously I too think that you need to work hard in life. You have to have a few rough years in the beginning of your career. You have to force yourself to the gym sometimes when you’re getting a bit too lazy. But there has to be a balance. 

Life is not that long. So even though it is great to be thinking about the future and laying the groundwork for a happy life, there is a present to consider as well.

How you feel right now matters. If you have slept enough this week matter. Your stress level right now matters. 

Life is what’s happening right now. Today. If you’re always thinking about your future, ask yourself when you will reach that day that your future will become the present. If not now, when will you start prioritizing your happiness? If not now, when will you reach the point when you’re satisfied with your life? 

Goal oriented people can easily go an entire life without ever landing in their present and appreciate what they have accomplished and all the good things they have in their life. But that’s not what life is about, right?