The Fall Equinox: The Original Work-Life Balance Coach!

Happy Fall Equinox 2025

Today marks the fall equinox—that rare moment in the year when day and night share the sky evenly, like two kids splitting a chocolate cookie right down the middle. Though to be honest, someone always gets the side with more chocolate chips (which hopefully is me!). It’s the time of year when we lean towards more nourishing foods like stews or soups. We watch football, we rake leaves, we have bonfires. So many reasons to love Fall!

Twice a year, the earth tilts just enough for us to experience this cosmic equality. Once in spring and once in Fall. It’s nature’s way of reminding us that balance is possible—even if it feels elusive most days.

And isn’t “Balance” what we’re all chasing? Or trying to at least?

We talk about work-life balance, balanced diets (while polishing off pizza), and balanced schedules that somehow accommodate Zoom calls, laundry, and binge-watching the latest must-see show on Netflix. But what does balance really look like in your personal and professional life? And what better time to explore that than on the day when the universe is literally showing us how it’s done?

Why Balance Is So Tricky

Here’s the thing: balance isn’t about perfection. Nobody stands perfectly still on a tightrope and balances forever. Balance is more like a dance—you lean too far one way, catch yourself, then adjust back.

Some weeks, you may nail your meal prep, get in daily walks, and feel like you’re glowing from the inside out. Other weeks, you’re lucky if you can find two socks that match. Sometimes, your balance changes from day to day.  That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re human.

And yet, when we don’t pause to check in, it’s easy to tip too far for too long. We overschedule. We say yes to things we don’t want. We stay up until midnight scrolling or watching “just one more episode” until the sun comes up. (Netflix even has that cheeky little “Are you still watching?” message that feels less like a prompt and more like a judgement that you’ve been watching too long)

Where Are You Out of Balance?

On this equinox, I invite you to pause and take a little inventory. Ask yourself:

• What’s taking up too much space right now?

  Is it Netflix, email, social media, saying yes when you want to say no?

Or on the flip side:

• What’s not getting enough space?

  Is it exercise, family dinners, sleep, creativity, play, or even just staring out the window doing absolutely nothing?

These questions don’t come with judgment; they come with awareness. Sometimes the smallest shifts can bring us closer to center.

Balance in Personal Life

In our personal lives, imbalance often shows up as neglecting the very things that give us energy. Maybe you’ve been meaning to call that friend who always makes you laugh but keep putting it off. Maybe your tennis shoes haven’t seen daylight in months. Or maybe your hiking boots haven’t.  Maybe you can’t remember the last time you cooked a meal that didn’t involve a microwave. Maybe it’s been too long since you took time to call your dad or mom.

Balance doesn’t mean giving every area equal attention every day. It means knowing what fills your tank and making sure you’re not running on fumes. It means realizing that watching an entire season of a show in one weekend might be fun—but so is walking in crisp fall air, wrapped in a scarf, hearing the crunch of leaves underfoot. In fact, it’s even better! Or sitting by a bonfire. Or going to a pumpkin patch!

Balance in Professional Life

Work can swallow us whole if we let it. Emails, deadlines, meetings that could’ve been emails. It’s easy to find yourself working late, eating lunch at your desk, and checking emails at 10 p.m.

But here’s the truth: no one is handing out trophies for most hours logged. Productivity doesn’t come from burnout; it comes from feeling fresh. Balance at work might mean setting firmer boundaries. It might mean blocking time for deep focus instead of living in your inbox. It might mean taking a real lunch break (and not just walking to the fridge and back).

I once heard someone say: If you don’t take time for your wellness, you’ll be forced to make time for your illness. That line always gets me. Balance is preventative. It’s not selfish; it’s smart.

How to Recalibrate

The beauty of balance is that it doesn’t require a life overhaul. It just asks for attention and small adjustments:

1. Notice. Today’s equinox is a built-in reminder. Use it to reflect on where you’re leaning too far.

2. Adjust. Swap one hour of scrolling for one hour of reading, journaling, or walking.

3. Experiment. Balance isn’t static. Try a new morning routine. Block out “no-work” evenings. Move the needle and see how it feels.

4. Laugh at Yourself. Because sometimes balance is eating kale salad (blah)…with a side of fries.

A Gentle Nudge

As the earth tilts today, let it nudge you too. Let it remind you that balance is possible—even if fleeting—and that the simple act of pausing to notice is often the first step.

And if you catch yourself slipping back into imbalance (which you will), just remember: even the planet has to wobble its way back to center.

Happy Fall Equinox! May your day—and your life—be balanced, joyful, and maybe just a little bit chocolate-chippy on the side.

Much love to all,

Ruthie