Are you living your life to the fullest, enjoying moments as they occur, or has your life become a drive-by experience? A healthy work-life balance is vital to living your best life.
Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Life?
When we care for ourselves and live in the moment, feeling things as they occur, we experience many joyful moments.
If we live our lives at a fast pace, on a tight schedule, moving from one task to the next, we often miss the little things that bring us joy. By the end of the day, we may not recall the critical moments that truly mattered.
“Be mindful that your life is not so busy that you stop appreciating what really matters. Somewhere in the ebb and flow, there must be time to reflect and practice gratitude.” – Linda Marshall, Author
The “Drive-By Life” Phenomena
Several years ago, I coined the phrase “drive-by life” phenomena when writing my first book, Giving Back, How to Find Your Personal Joy and Make a Difference to Others. This term encapsulates a lifestyle where one navigates through an incessant series of tasks and obligations, often without pausing to acknowledge emotions or savour meaningful interactions and achievements. In this relentless pursuit of productivity, moments blur together, leaving a sense of emptiness upon reflection.
Living a "drive-by life" robs us of fully experiencing our journey and connecting deeply with the people who matter most. It's easy to fall into the habit of merely going through the motions of daily life, neglecting the opportunity to cherish meaningful moments and cultivate lasting fulfillment.
The Elusive Work-Life Balance
The first step is to determine what is causing this behaviour. It can often be related to needing a better work-life balance. Living in the moment and practicing mindfulness is the best way to achieve this balance. It's important to note that the balance will differ for each of us. When I am working, I focus solely on my work. I give them my full attention when I am with family or friends. However, I have also noticed that my passion for both parts of my life can get in the way. Sometimes, I feel a pressing need to complete just one more task or make one more call, even after an exceptionally productive day.
Where Do I Start?
To get the most out of your life, you must step back and decipher what is important: Is it family, work, or a combination of both? If both are crucial, how do we make time for them? Essentially, it is about improving your focus on your actions and making decisions that benefit you and everyone around you.
Pause and ask yourself:
- Is it hard to find a work-life balance because I don't want to change my work patterns?
- Is it hard because I love the high I get from working so much daily?
- Or is it because I haven’t mastered mindfulness yet?
Here are some questions for self-reflection:
- Am I living a "drive-by life?"
- If you are, consider some examples of why you believe this.
- If you’re not, consider some examples of why you believe you are not.
- What is one thing I could practice today to make my life more meaningful?
Although we may want to do it all, perhaps just accomplishing the high-priority items daily is enough. Highly emotionally intelligent individuals live a more balanced life, practice mindfulness, and are more self-aware.
To live a more balanced life, I recommend adopting a growth mindset to become more aware of your emotions and create a path to living in the moment. For one-on-one guidance with reaching your goals, including self-development, team building, employee relationships, and more, click here.
This article was originally published on June 29, 2019, and has been updated (July 2024).
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