Achieve True Peace of Mind: How Your Environment Shapes Your Thoughts – Take the Balance Test

Peace of mind is priceless. I discovered this firsthand six months after my son's birth. Juggling ideal motherhood, marriage, homemaking, and a demanding career led to burnout and prolonged disability. Even as someone who prided herself on resilience, I realized mental calm is essential. Deeper self-analysis revealed how my choices were swayed by external influences, unhelpful thoughts, judgments, and unspoken fears.

Table of contents

Making Space for Better Work-Life Balance

Childhood norms and beliefs often hold us back more than they help. Do you relate? You follow ingrained patterns, yet chaos builds because they no longer fit your life. It's time to declutter your mind for lasting peace. Just like tidying a home, release unhelpful thoughts and emotions, keep what serves you, and organize the rest for clarity and calm.

The Life of a Working Woman Is Top Sport!

Why the mental overload today? Our mothers managed more children with fewer conveniences—no washing machines, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, or one-stop supermarkets, often biking everywhere. Yet modern life feels harder.

I liken a working mother's life—family, home, social commitments—to elite athletics. Juggling it all daily while staying steady demands true skill and inner peace. One slip, and the delicate balance tips: overview vanishes, control slips, tension mounts.

Picture this: Morning panic as a child falls ill, missing school or daycare. You have a key meeting; your partner is unavailable. Arguments flare over priorities and backups. Stress surges—you're on the brink. How do you navigate and thrive?

In Balance with Peace of Mind? Take the Test!

Assess your equilibrium with this balance test, adapted from Heart at Work by Carien Karsten. Score 1 point for each statement that applied in the past 2 months—even if just sometimes.

Physical

• I often sleep less than 7 hours and then wake up tired
• I often skip breakfast or eat something unhealthy
• I exercise too little
• I don't take frequent breaks during work, often I eat my lunch at my desk, if I eat at all

Emotional

• I often feel irritable, impatient or anxious at work, especially when the work demands a lot from me
• I spend too little time with my family or those who are dear to me and when I am with them, my thoughts are often absent
• I don't have enough time for the things I like
• I show others that I value them too little and enjoy my own achievements too little

Mental

• I have trouble concentrating on one thing at a time, I get distracted easily, especially by email and social media
• I spend a lot of time on urgent matters that come my way, instead of focusing on things that matter in the longer term
• I spend too little time on self-development and creativity
• I work a lot of evenings and weekends and rarely have an email-free vacation

Motivation

• I spend too little time at work on the things I enjoy and that I am good at
• I experience a gap between what is important to me in life and what I spend the most time on
• I let my decisions at work depend more on external factors than on my own beliefs and goals
• I contribute too little to the well-being of others or to social goals

Scores

0–3: You're well-balanced. Focus on sustaining your energy.

4–6: Risk of imbalance looms. Act now to protect your peace.

7–10: Energy is disrupted. Prioritize self-care immediately.

11–16: Crisis mode. Consult a stress or burnout expert. Build energy through movement, relaxation, meditation, or mindfulness to prevent escalation.

How did you score? Need guidance to reclaim space and serenity?

Tips to Stay in Balance

Guard Your Boundaries

Weak boundaries fuel overload and burnout. 'No' is a valid response. Practice it—observe its impact on you and others.

Avoid Unnecessary Stress

Thoughts and attitudes amplify stress. Stick to facts, avoid exaggeration. Master emotion regulation and clear communication. Confront fears head-on.

Make Conscious Choices

95% of behavior is habitual. Challenge autopilot: Who defines 'should'? Set life goals, prioritize ruthlessly, ignore distractions.

Take Time for Life Events

Births, divorces, losses, illnesses disrupt balance. Allow processing time to grieve and realign.

Let Go of Old Patterns

Childhood thinking persists but may hinder now. Update norms like 'never anger' or 'always help others first.' Assert yourself healthily—shed ill-fitting mental habits like outgrown clothes.

Feel at Home in Your Own Skin

Balance activity with rest, prioritize sleep, exercise, and nutrition for steady energy.

Tip: For more, read A Tidy Mind in 7 Steps by Jolanda—clear, practical guidance for mental clarity 😉.

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• My work-life balance is gone and I feel the energy disappear
• Balance work in private, how do you do that with more children?
• Balance is within you
• Burn out symptoms or just 'very busy'

*Image via Shutterstock