For those who feel “stuck” or overwhelmed in their pursuit Work-life balanceSome experts recommend a “commuting lifestyle.”
The commuter lifestyle was developed by Dr. It is coined by Jeffrey Karp, Ph.D., a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard Medical School at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston and is defined as a “concept that recognizes the natural ups and downs of life and allows you to live amid them this one to thrive.” the swings.”
“Rarely are we in balance… it’s just unrealistic and one anxiety-inducing Expectation,” 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 perfect, Karp said.
With this approach, people can “swing the pendulum” in small steps and feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” throughout the day, he said.
This could also empower individuals who feel “stuck” in the face of daily challenges, he said.
“When you look at nature, there are so many cycles, so many things that kind of go back and forth, like day and night… changing seasons and the waxing and waning of the moon,” Karp noted.
The Commuting lifestyle This includes daily “self-check-ins” where the person measures their physical, emotional and mental energy levels, Karp said. You can then take immediate action to shift its levels in a positive direction towards the ideal balance.
“If we can visualize everything on a pendulum, we can think, ‘What’s the one step I could take today to move the pendulum a little closer to where I want it?'” said he.
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.
He would then do a “self-check” to figure out where his energy level is on the pendulum and what small steps might bring it closer to the ideal balance point, Karp said.
“True well-being lies not in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to handle the ups and downs of life.”
That might mean taking one 10 minutes walkDo a few jumping jacks or do some stretches to move the pendulum to a higher energy level position.
“It strengthens the person and reminds them that they are not stuck,” Karp said.
On the other hand, if it’s late at night and a person needs to relax, they might engage in a… calming exercise such as meditation or listening to relaxing music to swing the pendulum to a level that promotes sleep, the expert advised.
The commuting lifestyle can also serve as a mood booster, Kelp said. If someone is feeling down, watching a funny movie or practicing gratitude can help flip the pendulum.
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The approach could also help provide momentum forward when someone feels “stuck” in life, the expert said.
“When you realize that you’re not limited to being at this point on the pendulum, but that you can take a step forward and move forward with purpose, that’s just a great power,” he said.
Dr. Molly Sherb, an assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a licensed psychologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, commented on Karp’s concept of a commuter lifestyle.
“When you realize that you’re not limited to standing at this point on the pendulum, but that you can take a step forward and move forward with purpose, that’s just a great power.”
She agreed that the daily check-in process could help individuals recognize when they are not feeling their best and find ways to move in a better direction.
“This could include sleeping better or eating something healthier breakfast … to help you wake up tomorrow with better bandwidth,” Sherb said.
Progress, not perfection
Dr. Christopher Fisher, psychologist at Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health in Queens, New Yorksaid the commuter lifestyle can help those who feel pressured to achieve a perfect work-life balance.
“The pendulum of life 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 lies not in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to deal with the ups and downs of life,” he told Fox News Digital.
Sherb agreed that the essence of the pendulum lifestyle is that it’s not always possible to achieve a 50:50 balance.
“It’s about constantly tuning in to yourself … and figuring out what parts of your life you might need more at certain times,” she said.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather a tailored approach based on your needs and the needs of the people in your life.”
4 Steps to Implement the Commute Lifestyle
Karp shared some specific strategies for adopting the pendulum approach.
1. Do a head-to-toe check-in every morning
Ask yourself how you feel emotionally, physically and mentally. Which parts don’t feel 100%?
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2. Make any necessary adjustments
Based on your self-check-in, consider changing your routine to match your energy levels or taking simple steps to move the pendulum in a positive direction, Karp suggested.
3. Be compassionate and curious
If you feel out of balance, Karp said, recognize it as part of the natural pendulum swing and embrace it with self-compassion rather than shame and criticism.
“It’s about constantly tuning in to yourself…and figuring out what parts of your life you might need more at certain times.”
Take a constructive perspective and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you reach a more optimal level on the commute path, he advised.
4. Understand your pendulum swings
It can be helpful to ask yourself certain questions, such as the following.
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“What factors contributed to feeling balanced?”
“What factors contributed to your feeling unbalanced?”
“What small changes can I make today to promote a better sense of balance?”
“How did I respond to the feeling of imbalance and was it effective?”
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Above all, Karp said, it’s important to remember this Find balance is a “lifelong journey”.