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Balance. It can be hard to find no matter what you do or who you are. But finding balance in life is something that we all work to achieve. Balancing life can also look different for everyone, but it is important regardless of which elements of a balanced life appeal to you most. For military families, it can be even harder to find balance considering all that comes with military life, but it is most certainly possible. Here are some of our tips on balancing life for military families.
Finding Balance in Life in a Military Family
Balancing life looks different for everyone, and it definitely looks different for military families balancing military life on top of everything else. Balance could mean giving yourself time for a workout or some relaxation during a busy workday. It could also mean setting aside time on the weekends to call your family and friends. But it could also be as simple as having some fun every once in a while.
First things first, decide what balance looks like for you. What brings you relaxation? What do you have fun doing? Make sure that you prioritize those things just as much as you prioritize work or anything else you have to get done during your day. Once you have an idea of what you want your balance in life to look like, it can be much easier to find it.
Use Your Support System
Talk to your loved ones and rely on them for support! Finding balance can be difficult, especially if you are juggling more than the average family. Talk to your spouse, friends, parents, family, or whoever helps you relieve some of the weight on your shoulders. Communicating how you feel can make all the difference, and chances are, they’ll have some tips of their own to share. Being a military family might mean you aren’t physically close to your loved ones, and COVID precautions may make it difficult to see even your local support system. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to stay connected! Pick up the phone for a chat, set up a group Zoom call, or just shoot a simple text to get the conversation started.
And as always, there is a strong community at Lincoln Military Housing to help you with additional support - community events, neighbors, and more can all help you achieve that balance in your life.
Find Time to Unwind
Relaxing and having fun is just as important (if not more) than everything else you have to do in your day. If you’re not finding time to unwind, you won’t be as productive or efficient in your other day-to-day tasks. In fact, finding time to relax can be one of the most important elements of a balanced life.
It’s a good idea to make sure that throughout your day, you’re setting aside time to unwind. This time you spend unwinding can also be a great way to incorporate more family time or quality time with your spouse into your day. Or, you can dedicate your weekends to spending time with your family. If your spouse is overseas or posted elsewhere, it’s also a great idea to try to schedule calls with them for some phone dates.
If you have children, make sure to spend some time with them as well. Being a part of a military family definitely affects them in different ways as well, so finding balance and including your children in that is a great way to provide stability in their lives. So put aside some time for some at-home activities with your little ones.
Keep to a Schedule
Making and keeping to a schedule can make the day-to-day all that much easier and there are many benefits to it, including prioritization, task accomplishment, and goal setting. Try planning out your week ahead of time, so that you know what to expect and know when you will be busy. Then once you have a schedule, stick to it! Structure and routine to your days will help you keep busy, get everything done, and make your free time feel even sweeter.
Your Spouse is Your Partner
Whether you are in the military or your spouse is, it still makes you a military family, and since you are partners, you’re both in it together. Being a military family can add in a whole new host of challenges, whether it be challenges in your marriage, stress, or worry. But you can rely on one another throughout moves, changes, whatever it may be.
Research shows that military spouses generally declare that finding balance in life is one of their biggest problems. Similarly, spouses are often left with feelings of loneliness or boredom. To avoid this, it’s important to communicate with your partner about how you’re feeling. Talk to one another, whether you’re in the same space or not! Figure out a way to let each other know how you can work as a team. Having a steady support system and being able to count on each other will make balancing life all that much easier.
As a military family, there is more support to you than you even realize. Military families are all part of a community, and that community can be a great support system. If you’re living on base, there is even more support available to you. Living on base with Liberty Military Housing brings an entire support system and community along with it. Your neighbors will be families who are living a life similar to yours and will be able to understand the difficulties of finding balance in life as a military family. But living in Liberty Military Housing communities means that from the day you move in, you will have a support system that will be able to help you find balance in life.
