They say the ideal life is a balanced one—but how does one actually make that happen? Too much loafing on the sofa, and your physical and mental health can plummet. Too much time at work or out with friends, on the other hand, can make it difficult to feel grounded. From work to socializing and reserving enough solo time to feel like yourself, it can feel impossible to truly balance the scales in your life.
That’s why we spoke to Amanda Long, a licensed clinical psychologist, about some of the best ways to create and maintain balance in our lives, and came up with the list below, from scheduling hacks to getting the most out of how we move throughout our day in an exhilirating-meets-eco-conscious ride like the all-electric Acura ZDX Type S.
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The Acura ZDX Type S
Identify Your Non-Negotiables
Life inherently requires compromise, but compromises should never involve giving up a productive activity that brings you joy, Long advises. She suggests identifying healthy “non-negotiables” that you’re unwilling to give up, whether it’s family dinner three nights a week or protecting your workout hour, and then setting boundaries around them. Be sure to communicate these parameters clearly with those who are counting on you, however, she emphasizes.
And just as you may have non-negotiables in your personal life, you shouldn’t have to compromise on car quality either. With the ZDX, Acura sought to balance luxury features with high-performance specs—allowing drivers to feel confident in both the presentation and the performance of their electric vehicle. From the outside, its 22-inch wheels, Jewel Eye LED Headlights and Chicane LED Taillights exude a decidedly luxurious aura, while the 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen® premium sound system ensures state-of-the-art audio quality inside the vehicle, and the wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility give you seamless access to your favorite apps. Such aesthetics are complemented by high-performance specs, including an available Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive with nearly 500 horsepower and multiple drive modes to suit anyone’s style.
And when it comes to your car, the biggest non-negotiable of all is safety. The ZDX Type S has AcuraWatch 360+ Advanced Safety and Driver Assistance Technology with a range of safety features, including active lane-change assist, lane-change collision mitigation, and front cross-traffic warning tech.
Practice Intentional Task Overlap
“Find overlap in your personal goals and family time to create more meaningful experiences,” Long recommends, pointing out that “by merging pursuits rather than compartmentalizing, you enrich your time and make personal goals more achievable.” For example: Want to do some weight-lifting at the gym on the weekend, but also to spend time with friends or loved ones? Plan a hike with them to accomplish both.
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There are many similarly creative ways to accomplish two “wants” at once. Make a list of yours, and then brainstorm activities that can accomplish multiple entries. For anyone constantly on the move between home, work, and social life, it’s important to invest in a car that encourages a sense of balance—like the ZDX, which combines cutting-edge EV technology with exhilarating performance and luxe design in a car that can shift between all the different modes of your life.
The charging technology of the ZDX is similarly engineered for versatility, allowing you to charge your car with an Acura Home Charging Station, a Portable Charging Kit, or through the EVgo network of roaming stations. This encourages high flexibility and ease of use for frequent public charging—especially helpful in urban settings. And there’s no need to stress when you’re on the move, either: the AcuraLink app connected by Onstar® allows you to check your charge status from your phone.
Make a “Don’t Do” List
“As valuable as a to-do list is, a ‘stop doing’ list can help identify activities or habits that no longer align with your goals,” Long says. In other words, if you’re no longer feeling fulfilled, it’s important to assess which parts of your routine you can and should remove. For example, if the way you’re hanging out with your friends is getting stale and you feel you don’t have enough time for yourself, maybe it’s time to cut back on that version of socializing in favor of more solo time to focus on personal interests. Give yourself permission to take control over your time, energy, and attention.
Ultimately, if a happy life is a balanced life, it’s important to make choices that cover your bases and make you feel confident that each facet of your life is where you want it to be—from your daily schedule to the car you drive.
