The holidays are behind us. New Year's resolutions may have been implemented, and some of us may be left wondering why life still feels arduous and draining at times.

You may feel as if you're on an eternal treadmill of needing to prove your worthiness through what you accomplish, how you look, or the image you present to the outside world. In spite of all of this, you might long for a richer and deeper connection with people and the community you inhabit, and wonder: How do I get there? How can I find a sense of peace, serenity and unforced, authentic joy?

In a technological age that is increasingly fast-paced, with shifting values and priorities that may or may not resonate with the way we want to live our lives, it is possible to slow down and reset our minds while we shift our sails toward embodying and focusing on what is important.

Research shows that our circumstances and priorities evolve.1 In other words, there is no "achieving" life balance. It's an ongoing practice.

In a series of interviews and research conducted by the Harvard Business Review, it was discovered that almost half of the working American population call themselves workaholics. About 1 in 5 say they check their emails in the middle of the night. Almost 6 in 10 say they check their emails first thing in the morning while still in bed. In all, 53% say they’re stressed out about work.2

We know that workaholism and personal overextension have been proven to negatively impact our physical and emotional health and well-being. Yet this treadmill of productivity continues to be normalized and celebrated in Western cultures. The inner message of "I must work and produce and hustle to prove my worth" is rampant. The only way to escape this mindset trap is to actively rail against it.

Becoming intentional about your values is a good place to start. Scheduling time for self-care, spending time with loved ones and for hobbies that bring you a sense of peace and joy provides a graceful exit ramp from the productivity treadmill to make space for the things that are life-giving. Priorities may need to shift, but........

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