For those who feel “stuck” or exhausted while striving to achieve Work-life balanceSome experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.”
The pendulum lifestyle was coined by Dr. Jeffrey Karp, a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard Medical School at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, as “a concept that recognizes the natural ebb and flow of life, and enables you to thrive amidst the fluctuations.”
“We are rarely in balance…it is unrealistic and unrealistic Causing anxiety Expectations,” the doctor told Fox News Digital in an interview.
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Seeing the world as a pendulum promotes a more compassionate mindset and relieves the pressure to be a perfectionist, Karp said.
For those who feel “stuck” or overwhelmed as they strive for work-life balance, some experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.” (Istock)
Through this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” enabling them to feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” during the day, according to the expert.
This may also empower individuals who feel “stuck” when facing daily challenges, he said.
“Looking at nature, there are many cycles, many things that go back and forth, like day and night…the changes of the seasons, the waxing and waning of the moon,” Karp noted.
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the Pendulum lifestyle This involves daily “self-check-ins” where a person measures their physical, emotional and mental energy levels, Karp said. They can then take immediate steps to move their levels in a positive direction toward ideal balance.
“If we can visualize everything on the pendulum, we can think: What is one step I can take today to move the pendulum a little closer to where I want it to be?” he said.
Through this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” enabling them to feel more emotionally, mentally, and physically “balanced” throughout the day. (Istock)
For example, a person with low physical energy might imagine a pendulum with the lowest energy on one side and the highest energy on the other side.
Karp said he would then do a “self-examination” to determine where his energy level is on the pendulum and what small steps could bring him closer to the ideal point of balance.
“True well-being lies not in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebbs and flows of life.”
That might mean taking 10 minutes walkOr do some jumping jacks or do some stretching exercises to move the pendulum to a higher energy level position.
“This empowers the person and reminds them that they are not stuck,” Karp said.
The expert said that walking for 10 minutes, doing some jumping or performing some stretching exercises can move the pendulum to a position of a higher energy level. (Istock)
On the other hand, if it is late at night and the person needs to relax, he or she may engage in an activity Practice calming exercises such as meditation Or listen to soothing music as a way to swing the pendulum to a level more suitable for sleep, the expert advises.
The pendulum lifestyle can act as a mood booster, Kelp said. When someone is feeling down, watching a funny movie or practicing gratitude can help swing the pendulum.
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This approach can also help release forward momentum if someone feels “stuck” in life, the expert said.
“When you start to realize that you're not limited to being at that point of the pendulum, but you can take a step forward and be intentional, it's very empowering,” he said.
A daily check-in process can help individuals identify when they're feeling less than top-level and find ways to swing in a better direction, one expert said. (Istock)
Dr. Molly Sherb Asst Professor of Psychiatry At the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a licensed psychologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, he commented on Karp's concept of the pendulum lifestyle.
“When you start to realize that you're not limited to being at that point of the pendulum, but you can take a step forward and be intentional, that's very encouraging.”
She agreed that a daily check-in process can help individuals identify when they feel less than top-level and find ways to swing in a better direction.
“This may include getting better sleep or eating better Healthy breakfast …to help you wake up with better bandwidth tomorrow,” Scherb said.
Progress, not perfection
Dr. Christopher Fisher, a psychologist at Zucker Hillside Northwell Health Queens, New YorkHe said the pendulum lifestyle can help those who feel pressured to achieve a perfect work-life balance.
“The pendulum of life's experiences — whether emotional, cognitive or physical — is one of the truest expressions of what it means to be human,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“True well-being It lies not in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebbs and flows of life,” he told Fox News Digital.
Scherb agrees that the essence of the pendulum lifestyle is that it's not always possible to achieve that even 50-50 balance.
One expert advised taking a constructive view and asking yourself what positive changes or routines could help you get better on the pendulum's path. (Istock)
“It's about constantly being in tune with yourself… and knowing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times,” she said.
“It's not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a more tailored approach based on what you need and what the people in your life need from you.”
4 steps to implementing the pendulum lifestyle
Karp shared some specific strategies for adopting a pendulum approach.
1. Do a head-to-toe check-in every morning
Ask yourself how you feel emotionally, physically and mentally. What parts do you not feel at 100%?
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2. Make any necessary adjustments
Based on your self-examination, consider changing your routine to accommodate your energy level or taking simple steps to help move the pendulum in a positive direction, Karp suggested.
3. Be compassionate and curious
If you feel out of balance, Karp said to recognize it as part of the natural pendulum swing and embrace it with self-compassion rather than shame and criticism.
“It's about constantly being in tune with yourself… and knowing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times.”
He advises you to adopt a constructive perspective and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you achieve a better level on the pendulum path.
4. Understand the swings of your pendulum
It may be helpful to ask yourself specific questions, such as the following.
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“What factors helped contribute to creating a sense of balance?”
“What factors contributed to feelings of imbalance?”
“What small changes can I make today to promote feeling better balanced?”
“How did you respond to the feeling of imbalance and was it effective?”
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Above all, it's important to remember that, Karp said Find balance It is a “Journey of a Lifetime”.
