For those who feel “stuck” or overwhelmed while striving work-life balancesome experts recommend adopting a ‘pendulum lifestyle’.
The pendulum lifestyle, coined by Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Ph.D, professor of biomedical engineering at Brigham & Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School in Boston, is defined as a “concept that recognizes the natural ebb and flow of life and allows you to thrive amid the swings.”
“Rarely are we in balance… it’s just unrealistic and one terrifying 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.
For those who feel “stuck” or overwhelmed as they strive for work-life balance, some experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.” (iStock)
With this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” helping them feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” during the day, the expert said.
This could also empower people who feel “stuck” when faced with daily challenges, he said.
“If you look at nature, there are so many cycles, so many things that go back and forth, like day and night… changes of seasons and the waxing and waning of the moon,” Karp said.
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The pendulum lifestyle includes daily “self-check-ins” where the person measures their physical, emotional and mental energy levels, Karp said. They can then take immediate steps to move their 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 bit closer to where I want it?’” he said.
With this approach, people can take small steps to ‘swing the pendulum’, helping them feel more ‘balanced’ emotionally, mentally and physically throughout the day. (iStock)
For example, a person with little physical energy might imagine a pendulum with the lowest energy on one side and the highest energy on the other.
He would then do a “self-check” to determine where his energy level lies on the pendulum and what small steps could bring him closer to the ideal balance point, Karp said.
“True well-being lies not in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebbs and flows of life.”
That could mean you have a 10 minutes walkdoing some jumping jacks or a few stretches to bring the pendulum to a higher energy level position.
“This empowers the person and reminds them that they are not stuck,” Karp said.
A 10-minute walk, a few jumping jacks or a few stretches can move the pendulum to a higher energy level position, the expert said. (iStock)
On the other hand, if it’s late at night and someone needs to wind down, she can engage in some exercise calming exercise such as meditation or listening to relaxing music as a way to bring the pendulum to a level more conducive to sleep, the expert advised.
The pendulum lifestyle can also serve as a mood booster, Kelp said. When someone is feeling down, watching a funny movie or practicing gratitude can help shift the pendulum.
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The approach could also help create forward momentum if someone is feeling “stuck” in life, the expert said.
“When you start to realize that you’re not limited to being at that spot on the pendulum, but can take a step forward and be intentional, it’s so empowering,” he said.
The daily check-in process can help individuals identify when they’re not feeling in top shape and find ways to move in a better direction, an expert said. (iStock)
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 pendulum lifestyle.
“When you start to realize that you are not limited to being at that spot on the pendulum, but can take a step forward and be intentional, it is so empowering.”
She agreed that the daily check-in process can help individuals identify when they are not feeling in top shape and find ways to move in a better direction.
“That could mean sleeping or eating better healthier breakfast …to help you wake up tomorrow with better bandwidth,” said Sherb.
Progress, not perfection
Dr. Christopher Fisher, a psychologist at Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health in Queens, New Yorksaid the pendulum lifestyle can help people who feel pressured to achieve a perfect work-life balance.
“The pendulum of life experiences – 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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“Real well-being lies not in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebbs and flows of life,” he told Fox News Digital.
Sherb agreed that the essence of the pendulum lifestyle is that it’s not always possible to find that 50-50 equal balance.
Adopt a constructive attitude and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you reach optimal levels on the winding path, an expert advised. (iStock)
“It’s about constantly tuning into yourself… and seeing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times,” she said.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a more tailored approach, based on what you need and what people in your life need from you.”
4 steps to implement the pendulum lifestyle
Karp shared some specific strategies for using the pendulum approach.
1. Do a full check-in every morning
Ask yourself how you feel emotionally, physically and mentally. What parts don’t feel at a 100% level?
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2. Make the necessary adjustments
Based on your self-check-in, consider adjusting your routine to suit your energy level or taking simple steps to help 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 into yourself… and seeing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times.”
Adopt a constructive attitude and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you reach optimal levels on the winding path, he advised.
4. Understand your pendulum swings
It can be helpful to ask yourself specific questions, such as the following.
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“What factors contributed to a sense of balance?”
“What factors contributed to the feeling of being out of balance?”
“What small changes can I make today to promote a sense of better balance?”
“How did I respond to feeling unbalanced and was it effective?”
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Above all, Karp said, it’s important to remember that find balance is a ‘lifelong journey’.
