A Holistic Approach to Balancing Work and Life

Over the past few years, I’ve been learning how to work in a way that feels gentle and sustainable. As I dig deeper into what it means to truly rest—rest that fills me up instead of just pausing the chaos—I keep noticing how scattered my work life can feel.

If you live with ADHD or chronic illness, you probably know how tough it is to be consistent. Add in a lifelong habit of procrastination as a coping mechanism, and suddenly, frustration and shame can start to feel like old friends. I’m great at creating plans and building systems, but following through—especially on my own—is where I stumble most often.

Working from home brings its own challenges: the constant background of chaos, distractions everywhere, and my body always asking for more rest. Some days, I wonder how I’m supposed to provide for my family when I’m stuck in a cycle of needing rest, procrastinating, and feeling overwhelmed.

I need support and real lifestyle changes so I can practice soul-deep rest and still gently, consistently grow my business. So, I started seeking guidance—meditating, journaling, and (honestly) letting AI help me brainstorm and plan. This has become my new toolkit for clarity and direction.

Here’s what I know I need now:

• Balance and structure, but with enough flexibility to honor my changing energy
  
  
• Accountability that feels encouraging, not shaming, but still helps me move forward
  
  
• A holistic approach that supports every area of my life, not just work
  
  
• A foundation built on self-care and compassion
  
  
• A community—I don’t want to walk this path alone
  
  

If you’re reading this and nodding along, please know you’re not alone either. So many solo entrepreneurs are neurodivergent, live with chronic illness, are parents, or just struggle to find balance between life and business. We all need support. We all need community. 

The Six Pillars of a Balanced Life

After plenty of trial, error, and reflection (plus a healthy dose of research), I’ve found that focusing on just a handful of key areas can make life feel more manageable and meaningful. I’m calling these the Pillars of Life: six essential foundations that, when tended to with intention, help us meet our needs and nurture our growth—no matter what season we’re in.

Let’s take a gentle, honest look at each pillar and how they support your journey:

1. Personal Wellbeing - Caring for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit
This pillar honors the connection between mind, body, and spirit. It includes:

• Physical health (exercise, nutrition, sleep)
  
  
• Mental health (therapy, mindfulness, managing ADHD/anxiety/depression)
  
  
• Emotional wellbeing (self-compassion, stress management)
  
  
• Personal growth (learning, hobbies, spirituality, self-reflection)
  
  
• Fun and recreation (leisure, creative pursuits)
  
  

2. Work - Finding Fulfillment in Your Work
This area helps you find professional fulfillment and maintain healthy boundaries between work and life. It covers:

• Job or business responsibilities
  
  
• Professional development and education
  
  
• Career planning and aspirations
  
  
• Work-life balance
  
  

3. Close Relationships - Nurturing Your Closest Connections
Here, the focus is on nurturing intimate and supportive connections with those closest to you:

• Parenting and caregiving
  
  
• Partner or spouse relationships
  
  
• Extended family connections
  
  
• Deep friendships
  
  

4. Environment - Creating a Peaceful, Supportive Space
A peaceful, functional living space supports every other area of your life. This includes:

• Cleaning, organizing, and maintaining your space
  
  
• Creating a safe, nurturing home
  
  
• Moving or home improvement projects
  
  

5. Money - Building Financial Security with Compassion
Financial health lays the groundwork for security and peace of mind. This pillar covers:

• Budgeting, saving, and investing
  
  
• Paying bills and managing debt
  
  
• Financial planning for the future
  
  

6. Community - Finding Belonging Beyond Your Inner Circle
This pillar celebrates belonging and connection beyond your immediate family. It includes:

• Friendships and social circles
  
  
• Community involvement and volunteering
  
  
• Networking and support groups
  
  

Gentle Routines for Steady Progress

So, how do we actually make progress in all these areas—especially when our energy and focus can change so much from week to week?

We can’t expect ourselves to work the same way every single day! Our energy shifts with the seasons, the moon, and our hormone cycles—especially for women.

I’ve heard that time blocking is a game-changer for neurodivergent folks, and I’ve tried it a few times. But I always struggled to keep it up. Looking back, I think it’s because I focused only on work, leaving out the other pillars, and didn’t plan for my natural energy cycles. I was unbalanced and had no support structure to help me stay motivated.

We need a system that reduces decision-making fatigue while keeping us on track with what really matters most. We need steady, reliable rhythms that also let us stay in the creative flow.

So here’s what I’ve come up with:

We have a structure that stays the same every week. There are blocks of time assigned to certain life focus pillars. Some blocks of time are not flexible—they must stay the same unless an event switches things up. Other blocks are flexible and can be switched out depending on our needs for that week.

We journal about each life focus pillar and come up with a “menu” of tasks for each. Those menus are in three categories based on the energy level needed for completion: Tiny Steps (Low Energy), Gentle Steps (Medium Energy), and Bigger Steps (High Energy).

Then, depending on a balance of our energy levels and priorities, we choose what things on the menu we do during those time blocks.

For example, you have an inflexible time block for work. You check in with your energy levels and note that you are in the low energy zone. You glance over your menu, note anything starred as a priority or with a deadline, and compare it with items available for you to do in your low energy work category.

If possible, you give yourself permission to guilt-free choose things that are aligned with your energy. And if that isn’t possible—if you have a deadline to meet on a higher energy task—you look ahead at your other time blocks and make a plan for adjusting. You might need a longer rest period to recuperate afterward, or perhaps you shift things in your schedule to give yourself some time to rest now so you can do a bigger push after a nap, etc.

I think this mindfulness is one of the hardest things for me, so I’m really looking forward to experimenting and seeing if it works well.

Bringing It All Together: Your Path to Balance

To implement this system in the gentlest way possible, I’ve created a 5-phase flow for the 90-day program I’ve created, and I’d love for you to try it with me:

Phase 1:
Start by documenting your natural cycles.
(I have a list of free resources to help with this.)

Phase 2:
Reflect on your desires for each pillar. What’s working? What isn’t? What support do you need? What changes could help you feel more balanced?
(There are journaling prompts and guides to follow.)

Phase 3:
Create goals and “task menus” for the next month or season, based on your reflections.
(We will have a co-working group call.)

Phase 4:
Plug those goals into a weekly time block schedule that adjusts for your natural energy cycles.
(We will have shorter weekly co-working group calls and a spreadsheet template to use.)

Phase 5:
Check in daily and make adjustments as needed, always keeping a gentle, positive mindset and staying open to change.
(This will be encouragement and accountability prompts in the private community feed.)

Reflect and Connect: Your Next Steps

What do you think? Would a structure like this make a difference in your life?

Which pillar feels like it’s not getting enough attention right now?

You don’t need to join my program to make this happen for yourself, but if you’re craving community support, we’re experimenting with our first 90-day round from May–July 2025.

You can learn more and sign up here or click the image below.

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