Life feels a lot like juggling, doesn’t it? Except instead of throwing around colorful balls at a 5 year olds birthday party, we’re often dealing with an endless stream of responsibilities, relationships, emotions, and, in my case, an ongoing battle with alcohol addiction. But hey, who doesn’t love a little chaos, right? (Well, a lot of people apparently)
At 28, it feels like I should have a clearer sense of balance by now. Like, isn’t this the time where people start getting their life together? But for me, and maybe for you too, it’s less “everything in its place” and more “I just hope I don’t fall on my face today.”
There are spheres we all try to keep in the air: the physical, emotional, social, professional, and spiritual. Here’s a little breakdown of these spheres and how I’m trying to balance them (or at least make sure I’m not dropping the same one over and over again).
1. The Physical Sphere
Ah, the body. You know, that skin bag filled with flesh, bones and organs that’s supposed to carry you through life while you simultaneously ignore it, punish it, and then get mad when it doesn’t function properly. I’m learning that the key here isn’t perfection. It’s just showing up for myself, even on the days I don’t feel like it. A gentle workout, going for a jog, some actual hydration (sparkling water is my fixation at the moment since I couldn’t justify drinking 3 redbulls a day), and a nourishing home-cooked meal that is prepared with love. That’s really all your body is asking for. And if you can, avoid alcohol at all costs. It’s ruined so many lives and also almost mine as well. So at least keep it to a minimum.
2. The Emotional Sphere
The emotional rollercoaster that is life at 28 feels a little broken. Some days it’s a straight shot into peace, other days it’s a sharp plummet into anxiety. Let’s be real: dealing with addiction adds layers to this emotional mess. Guilt, shame, and the need to numb are constant thoughts that never leave, like annoying acquaintances who never seem to leave the party.
Balance here looks like sitting with emotions instead of pouring a drink over them. Therapy helps, I think everyone should go at least once in their life to figure out if they really are okay, or just masking it. But hobbies help tremendously as well. For me currently it’s this blog, painting, writing stories, and baking/cooking. Just find what makes you happy, and do it, even in moments you don’t necessarily feel like it.
3. The Social Sphere
Friendships at this stage of life are… interesting. Some are beautiful and supportive, others are more like relationships I’m holding onto out of obligation. Navigating social life while battling addiction is tricky. People invite you out, expect you to be fun, but how do you explain that fun now comes with a side of recovery?
Unfortunately I have either made very bad friendships in the past or I’ve lost good ones out of feeling incompetent and humiliating as a human being. But what will it actually take to let someone close, and not push them away? That’s something I’m currently working on. And for those who are reading and have stayed despite me being a full blown mess sometimes – thank you, and I love you.
4. The Professional Sphere
I’m not going to lie, I don’t have the most impressive CV. I’ve worked as a model, a hostess, studied interior design, worked at a marketing agency, a couple weeks in a clothing store (sent away because “I wasn’t smiling enough”), I’ve had various internships in TV productions and communications agencies that didn’t work out because I felt too insecure and lost and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing and ended up losing those opportunities. I’m 28 and I really feel like I should have it all together by now…but I don’t. That’s why I’ve delved into blogging, photography and painting. Because, who knows? Something might come out of this.
Seriously though, the professional sphere can be a challenge because there’s this pressure to hustle, to be “on” all the time, to climb the ladder. But when you’re dealing with addiction recovery, sometimes just getting through a day without having a meltdown or needing a drink feels like enough. I’ve learned to set boundaries, not just with other people but with myself. I’ll hit career goals eventually, but I’m trying to remember that my well-being is worth more than hitting some arbitrary milestone.
5. The Spiritual Sphere
This one has been a bit of an enigma for me. Spirituality feels like this lofty, out-there concept, but maybe it’s simpler than that. For me, it’s about feeling connected—to something bigger, sure, but also to myself. It’s about finding meaning and purpose, even when the path forward feels foggy.
I’ve been exploring meditation, though my mind wanders a thousand km’s a minute. Some days I just sit outside with a cup of coffee and watch the hills and the clouds shift, and that feels enough like spirituality for me. Balance in this sphere is less about rituals and more about finding pockets of peace amid the noise
Balancing the Spheres
Here’s the thing: balance isn’t a destination. It’s not like one day you wake up, all the spheres are floating perfectly in the air, and you’re the picture of harmony. (And if someone tells you that’s how it works, they’re probably lying. Or selling something.)
What I’m realizing is that balance is messy. Some days one sphere is going to demand more of your energy than the others, and that’s okay. There’s no perfect formula. But what matters is being kind to yourself when you drop one—because you will. It’s about knowing which spheres need your attention right now, and which ones can wait a little while without guilt.
So here I am at 28, juggling all these spheres, knowing some days I’ll crush it and others I’ll crawl into bed wondering if I did anything right. But I think that’s life. Messy, chaotic, full of contradictions, and somehow beautiful. And for me, the key to balance is learning to embrace all of it, even the parts I don’t always want to face.
