A Time For Balance
A balanced life arises from a balanced mind. We looked to some of the strong, empowered women who inspire us to share their perspectives on the unrelenting quest for balance.
A balanced life can sometimes feel like an elusive concept, and our busy schedules, commitments, and to-do lists only complicate the pursuit. Though the notion of balance may conjure different meanings, it’s clear that many of us are seeking it (a quick google search displays over 275,000,000 results). But balance is not something that we can acquire or achieve. It’s an an ongoing practice, a state of mind and being.
A balanced life arises from a balanced mind. We looked to some of the strong, empowered women who inspire us to share their perspectives on the unrelenting quest for balance. Discover the ways that they create time for balance and invite them to inspire your own balancing rituals.
"Balance is not something that we can acquire or achieve. It’s an ongoing practice, a state of mind and being."
Sarah Akkari is the Owner & CEO of Senteurs d’Orient, a brand dedicated to one of our own favorite balancing acts – bathing rituals. Sarah describes balance as “taking a moment everyday for indulgence; a moment to elevate your everyday, or time to really unwind and disconnect.” Suitably, she creates these moments in the bath, describing the ritual as a form of meditation. “It’s about cleansing the mind and body, and creating a ritual that works to energize or relaxing me,” she says.
Photo Credit: Block 722 Architects
As a Registered Dietician with a Masters in Psychology Farah Fahad seems to be the epitome of balance between mind and body. Her website, The Farah Effect is a resource for nourishing recipes and nutritional tips. Just as the ingredients in her recipes are suited to nourish different needs, for Farah, the areas of our lives that we nourish are the ingredients that create a balanced life. “Balance is not only finding time for the different areas in your life that matter to you, but also ensuring that you are present for them,” she says.
Photo Credit: Katie Jameson
Photo Credit: Amanda Prior
As the founder of not one but two companies, including her collection of sustainable luxury attire called Everyday Silver, Samaher Bayazeed knows a thing or two about creating time for balance – especially living in the city that never sleeps. She describes balance as creating time to do the things that make you feel good – mentally or physically – even on the bad days. For Samaher, these are found in simple luxuries – a morning routine, a cup of coffee, a walk with her dog, a yoga class, or a weekly outing with a close group of friends. “Sometimes the simple moments are actually my favorite part of the morning or day,” she says.
Photo Credit: Sean Dalton
A serial entrepreneur and creative at heart, Nouf Hakeem seems to have mastered the art of balancing both a fulfilling life and career with her vintage furniture concept, Once Upon a Chair, and her latest project, Balain. She defines balance from a holistic approach, not through opposition. “Life is composed of many different small moments or strokes. Balance means creating the time and distance to step back and see the strokes objectively as a beautiful masterpiece in the making.” For Nouf, these moments are enhanced by her commitment to morning rituals – even though they are continuously evolving. “My current routine consists of a short meditation, writing, staying off of social media until 11AM, and taking weekends off entirely to be fully present for myself and my family.”
For Kuwaiti-born and NYC based visual artist Razan Al Sarraf, balance takes a prominent theme not only in her life but in her art as well. For Razan, balance is finding abundance through harmony, and “having the space and ability for all aspects of life to come together to support my goals and leave me feeling fulfilled, without burning out or falling into extremes.” To create this space, she emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the aspects of life that matter most to her: work, social life, health, and self. “I make sure to spend time at the studio, creating work and developing new concepts and ways to approach painting. I spend time with friends and family to connect and learn from each other’s experiences, which in turn informs my studio practice. It’s also important for me to stay hydrated, have a balanced diet, get enough sleep and squeeze in at least three hours a week of yoga and meditation to keep my health and self at peace.”
Fashion editor turned stylist Maryam Al Olaimy discovered her need to create balance during her early years in the notoriously fast-paced fashion industry. Surrounded by strong, independent businesswomen, but conditioned to believe that their status was a result of working around the clock, Maryam realized that success is defined by cumulative effort, not countless hours. “I used to get so busy with work and not make time to visit my friends or even call them. I was stressed, overworked and I didn’t realize I needed them in my life until started to see them more often.” Now, she makes sure to create time for the things that nourish her mental and physical health – even when life gets busy. “Balance is time management – finding the time to do everything you want without letting one thing affect another or stopping you from doing what you love,” she says.
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