As a student, you likely face a multitude of responsibilities: assignments, exams, projects, extracurricular activities, and perhaps even a part-time job. While achieving success in your studies is important, it is also important to invest in the other facets of your life, such as, your relationships, your physical health, your mental health, your spiritual life, etc. How do you manage these various facets of your life without experiencing overwhelming stress or burnout? In Part 1 of this series, we introduced you to the framework of the Twelve Areas of Balance from The Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani. We also explored the first four areas: Your Love Relationship, Your Friendships, Your Adventures, and Your Environment.
Here, we continue our journey of creating a balanced and extraordinary life as a student by exploring the next four areas: Your Health and Fitness, Your Intellectual Life, Your Skills, and Your Spiritual Life. As we did in Part 1, we will explain what each area means, why it is important, and how you can evaluate your current level of satisfaction in each area. We will also provide some tips and resources on how to improve your balance in these areas.
Your Health and Fitness
Your health and fitness is the state of your physical well-being. It includes your nutrition, exercise, sleep, hygiene, and medical care. The quality of your health and fitness can have a significant impact on your daily performance, mental clarity, and resilience.
Why is it Important?
Your health and fitness can provide you with:
- Energy and vitality
- Strength and endurance
- Immunity and resilience
- Beauty and attractiveness
- Longevity and quality of life
A healthy and fit body can enhance your self-esteem, confidence, and happiness. It can also help you cope with stress, challenges, and difficulties in life. A healthy and fit body can also inspire you to grow as a person, to learn new things, to explore new experiences, and to achieve your potential.
How can you evaluate it?
One way to evaluate your health and fitness is to use the following questionnaire, which is based on the work of Dr. Michael Greger, a physician and nutrition expert who runs the website NutritionFacts.org. Answer each question on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much):
- How much do you eat a balanced and nutritious diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and spices?
- How much do you avoid or limit processed foods, animal products, added sugars, salt, oil, alcohol, and caffeine?
- How much do you drink enough water and stay hydrated throughout the day?
- How much do you exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes a day at a moderate intensity?
- How much do you engage in strength training, flexibility training, and balance training at least twice a week?
- How much do you sleep for at least seven hours a night and follow a consistent sleep schedule?
- How much do you practice good hygiene habits such as washing your hands, brushing your teeth, flossing your teeth, and showering daily?
- How much do you get regular check-ups and screenings from your doctor and dentist?
- How much do you manage any chronic conditions or diseases that you have with appropriate medication or treatment?
- How much do you feel energetic, healthy, and fit in your daily life?
To calculate your score, add up the numbers for each question. The higher the score, the more satisfied you are with your health and fitness. A score of 40 or above indicates a high level of satisfaction, while a score of 30 or below indicates a low level of satisfaction.
How can you improve it?
If you are not satisfied with your health and fitness, there are some steps that you can take to improve it:
- Eat a balanced and nutritious diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and spices.
- Avoid or limit processed foods, animal products, added sugars, salt, oil, alcohol, and caffeine.
- Drink enough water and stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes a day at a moderate intensity.
- Engage in strength training, flexibility training, and balance training at least twice a week.
- Sleep for at least seven hours a night and follow a consistent sleep schedule.
- Practice good hygiene habits such as washing your hands, brushing your teeth, flossing your teeth, and showering daily.
- Get regular check-ups and screenings from your doctor and dentist.
- Manage any chronic conditions or diseases that you have with appropriate medication or treatment.
- Feel energetic, healthy, and fit in your daily life.
Some resources that you can use to improve your health and fitness are:
- NutritionFacts.org
- How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Dr. Michael Greger
- The 22-Day Revolution: The Plant-Based Program That Will Transform Your Body by Marco Borges
- The Fitness Mindset: Eat for Energy by Brian Keane
- The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time by Arianna Huffington
- The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Tim Ferriss
Your Intellectual Life
Your intellectual life is the state of your mental well-being. It includes your curiosity, creativity, learning, and knowledge. The quality of your intellectual life can have a significant impact on your creativity, fostering innovative thinking and fresh perspectives.
Why is it important?
Your intellectual life can provide you with:
- Interest and engagement
- Innovation and problem-solving
- Growth and development
- Wisdom and insight
- Fulfillment and satisfaction
A healthy intellectual life can enhance your cognitive abilities and critical thinking skills. It can also help you cope with the challenges and uncertainties that life throws your way. A healthy intellectual life can also inspire you to pursue new interests, explore diverse perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to your personal and professional growth.
How can you evaluate it?
One way to evaluate your intellectual life is to use the following questionnaire, which is based on the work of Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychology professor and the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Answer each question on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much):
- How much do you enjoy learning new things and expanding your knowledge?
- How much do you seek out challenging and stimulating tasks and projects?
- How much do you embrace feedback and criticism as opportunities to improve?
- How much do you persist in the face of obstacles and setbacks?
- How much do you celebrate your achievements and successes?
- How much do you collaborate and cooperate with others who share your interests and goals?
- How much do you value curiosity and creativity over conformity and compliance?
- How much do you apply your learning and knowledge to real-world situations and problems?
- How much do you reflect on your thinking and learning processes?
- How much do you feel intellectually fulfilled and satisfied in your daily life?
To calculate your score, add up the numbers for each question. The higher the score, the more satisfied you are with your intellectual life. A score of 40 or above indicates a high level of satisfaction, while a score of 30 or below indicates a low level of satisfaction.
How can you improve it?
If you are not satisfied with your intellectual life, there are some steps that you can take to improve it:
- Learn new things and expand your knowledge by reading books, taking courses, watching videos, listening to podcasts, or attending events.
- Seek out challenging and stimulating tasks and projects that interest you and excite you.
- Embrace feedback and criticism as opportunities to improve by asking for it, listening to it, and acting on it.
- Persist in the face of obstacles and setbacks by finding solutions, seeking help, and learning from mistakes.
- Celebrate your achievements and successes by acknowledging them, sharing them, and rewarding yourself.
- Collaborate and cooperate with others who share your interests and goals by joining clubs, groups, communities, or teams.
- Value curiosity and creativity over conformity and compliance by asking questions, exploring possibilities, experimenting with ideas, and expressing yourself.
- Apply your learning and knowledge to real-world situations and problems by finding relevant issues, challenges, or opportunities that interest you.
- Reflect on your thinking and learning processes by keeping a journal, a portfolio, or a blog.
- Feel intellectually fulfilled and satisfied in your daily life by doing what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for.
Some resources that you can use to improve your intellectual life are:
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
- TED: Ideas worth spreading
- Coursera: Build Skills with Online Courses from Top Institutions
- Goodreads: Meet your next favorite book
- Khan Academy: Free Online Courses
Your Skills
Your skills are the abilities that you have to perform certain tasks or activities. They can be hard skills, such as technical or professional skills, or soft skills, such as interpersonal or communication skills. The quality of your skills can have a significant impact on your problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and overall effectiveness in diverse situations.
Why is it important?
Your skills can provide you with:
- Competence and confidence
- Achievement and recognition
- Growth and development
- Value and contribution
- Fulfillment and satisfaction
High-level skills can enhance your performance in various aspects of life. It can also help you cope with challenges and obstacles more effectively. High-level skills can also inspire you to pursue ambitious goals, fostering a sense of achievement and personal fulfillment.
How can you evaluate it?
One way to evaluate your skills is to use the following questionnaire, which is based on the work of Richard Bolles, a career development expert and the author of What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. Answer each question on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much):
- How much do you enjoy using your skills in your current or desired field of study or work?
- How much do you feel that your skills are relevant and in demand in your current or desired field of study or work?
- How much do you feel that your skills are transferable and adaptable to different situations and contexts?
- How much do you feel that your skills are unique and distinctive from others in your current or desired field of study or work?
- How much do you feel that your skills are recognized and appreciated by others in your current or desired field of study or work?
- How much do you feel that your skills are aligned with your values and goals?
- How much do you feel that your skills are challenging and stimulating?
- How much do you feel that your skills are improving and evolving?
- How much do you feel that your skills are balanced and harmonious with other areas of your life?
- How much do you feel skilled and competent in your daily life?
To calculate your score, add up the numbers for each question. The higher the score, the more satisfied you are with your skills. A score of 40 or above indicates a high level of satisfaction, while a score of 30 or below indicates a low level of satisfaction.
How can you improve it?
If you are not satisfied with your skills, there are some steps that you can take to improve them:
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses in your current or desired field of study or work.
- Seek out opportunities and experiences that allow you to use and develop your skills.
- Learn new skills or update existing ones by taking courses, reading books, watching videos, listening to podcasts, or attending events.
- Practice your skills regularly and seek feedback from others who have expertise or experience in your field.
- Showcase your skills by creating a portfolio, a resume, a blog, or a website.
- Apply your skills to real-world problems or projects that interest you.
- Align your skills with your values and goals and make sure they are meaningful to you.
- Challenge yourself to master new levels of difficulty and complexity in your skills.
- Improve your skills by learning from others who have different or complementary skills.
- Balance your skills with other areas of your life and avoid overwork or underuse.
Some resources that you can use to improve your skills are:
- What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard Bolles
- Skillshare: Online Classes by Creative Professionals
- Udemy: Online Courses – Learn Anything, On Your Schedule
- Coursera: Build Skills with Online Courses from Top Institutions
Your Spiritual Life
Your spiritual life is the state of your connection with something greater than yourself. It can be a belief in God, a higher power, a universal force, a cosmic consciousness, or any other transcendent reality. The quality of your spiritual life can have a significant impact on your sense of purpose, inner peace, and overall fulfillment.
Why is it important?
Your spiritual life can provide you with:
- Faith and hope
- Peace and joy
- Love and compassion
- Meaning and purpose
- Fulfillment and satisfaction
A healthy spiritual life can enhance your inner peace and sense of purpose. It can also help you cope with life’s challenges and uncertainties. A healthy spiritual life can also inspire you to cultivate compassion, kindness, and a deeper connection with others.
How can you evaluate it?
One way to evaluate your spiritual life is to use the following questionnaire, which is based on the work of Rick Warren, a pastor and the author of The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Answer each question on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much):
- How much do you believe in something greater than yourself?
- How much do you feel connected to something greater than yourself?
- How much do you trust in something greater than yourself?
- How much do you experience peace and joy in your life?
- How much do you express love and compassion to others?
- How much do you live according to your values and principles?
- How much do you seek to understand the meaning and purpose of your life?
- How much do you fulfill the mission and vision of your life?
- How much do you practice spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation, worship, or service?
- How much do you feel spiritually fulfilled and satisfied in your daily life?
To calculate your score, add up the numbers for each question. The higher the score, the more satisfied you are with your spiritual life. A score of 40 or above indicates a high level of satisfaction, while a score of 30 or below indicates a low level of satisfaction.
How can you improve it?
If you are not satisfied with your spiritual life, there are some steps that you can take to improve it:
- Explore different spiritual traditions and beliefs and find one that resonates with you.
- Connect with something greater than yourself by spending time in nature, in silence, or in awe.
- Trust in something greater than yourself by surrendering your worries, fears, and doubts.
- Experience peace and joy in your life by practicing gratitude, forgiveness, and optimism.
- Express love and compassion to others by being kind, generous, and helpful.
- Live according to your values and principles by being honest, respectful, and responsible.
- Seek to understand the meaning and purpose of your life by reflecting on your gifts, passions, and dreams.
- Fulfill the mission and vision of your life by using your talents, skills, and resources to make a positive difference in the world.
- Practice spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation, worship, or service by setting aside time for them regularly.
- Feel spiritually fulfilled and satisfied in your daily life by doing what makes you happy, what makes you grow, what makes you connect, and what makes you contribute.
Some resources that you can use to improve your spiritual life are:
- The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
- The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho
- The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams by Deepak Chopra
Conclusion
Here, we have explored the next four areas of balance identified in The Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani: Your Health and Fitness, Your Intellectual Life, Your Skills, and Your Spiritual Life. We have explained what each area means, why it is important, and how you can evaluate your current level of satisfaction in each area. We have also provided some tips and resources on how to improve your balance in these areas.
Focusing on these four crucial areas will help you create a well-rounded and remarkable student life. By developing these areas, you not only elevate your happiness, well-being, and personal development but also bolster your resilience in the face of stress and life’s challenges. Embracing these key elements can serve as a source of inspiration, propelling you to embrace personal growth, acquire new knowledge, embark on exciting experiences, and strive toward realizing your fullest potential.
Next Steps
We hope that this blog post has inspired you to take action on improving your balance in these four areas of life. Here are some next steps that you can take:
- Take the questionnaires for each area and calculate your scores. Compare them with the average scores of other students who have taken them. Identify which areas are your strengths and which areas need improvement.
- Choose one area that you want to focus on first. Set a specific and realistic goal for improving your satisfaction in that area. For example, if you want to improve your health and fitness, you could set a goal of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables every day for a month.
- Use the tips and resources that we have provided for each area to help you achieve your goal. For example, if you want to improve your health and fitness, you could use the website NutritionFacts.org by Dr. Michael Greger as a guide.
- Track your progress and celebrate your achievements. For example, if you want to improve your health and fitness, you could keep a journal of how you feel after eating five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. You could also reward yourself with something that makes you happy after completing a month of healthy eating.
- Repeat the process for the other areas until you achieve a high level of satisfaction in all four areas.
We would love to hear from you about how this blog post has helped you improve your balance in these four areas of life. Please leave us a comment below… we look forward to hearing from you!
Stay tuned for our next blog post where we will explore the last four areas of balance: Your Career, Your Creative Life, Your Family Life, and Your Community Life. Until then, happy balancing!