Living a balanced life

A purposeful life is not one long sprint. Rest, relationships, faith or values, health and fun all need space. Many traditions, Islamic, Arab and global, have long taught that the best path lies in balance rather than extremes.

Balance across traditions

• The Quran (2:143) describes the community of believers as 'ummatan wasatan', which Quran.com translates as 'an upright community'; other translations give 'balanced', 'just' or 'middle'. Wasat means the middle.
• A well-known Arabic saying, 'khayr al-umur awsatuha', means 'the best of matters is the middle course'. It is often attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, but scholars question that attribution, so it is quoted here simply as a saying.
• In Sahih al-Bukhari (hadith 1975), the Prophet Muhammad advised his companion Abdullah ibn Amr not to fast every day and pray all night, but to balance worship with rest and sleep, because his body, his eyes, his wife and his guests all had a right over him.
• The Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that virtues sit between two extremes: courage, for example, lies between cowardice and recklessness.
• Confucian teaching has the Doctrine of the Mean, and the Buddha taught a 'middle way' between harsh self-denial and self-indulgence.

Rest is not laziness

• The CDC says teenagers aged 13 to 17 need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a day, and adults aged 18 to 60 need 7 or more.
• The NHS recommends going to bed and getting up at similar times every day, including weekends, and avoiding screens for an hour before bed.
• If worries keep you awake, the NHS suggests writing them down or listing tomorrow's tasks before bed.
• Build real breaks into study: time outdoors in cooler hours, prayer, a meal with family, or a hobby you enjoy for its own sake.
• The Nutrition and a Healthy Body module covers sleep, movement and hydration in more detail.

Relationships as a priority

• The Harvard Study of Adult Development found that relationship satisfaction at age 50 predicted health at age 80 better than cholesterol levels did.
• Robert Waldinger, its director, says 'Loneliness kills', underlining that connection matters for health, not just happiness.
• The NHS suggests regular family meals, reconnecting with friends and talking face to face, rather than relying only on messaging.
• In GCC culture, time with extended family, such as weekly gatherings, is a natural source of support. Protect it, even in exam season, even if briefly.

A simple balance check

• The NHS five steps to mental wellbeing offer a useful checklist: connect with other people, be physically active, learn new skills, give to others, and pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness).
• Once a week, rate each area of your life from 1 to 5: sleep, movement, family, friends, study, faith or values, service, and fun.
• Pick the lowest score and choose one small action for next week, for example 'one walk with my sister' or 'phone off at 10:30 pm'.
• Balance changes with the season: before exams, study takes more time, but sleep and connection should never drop to zero.
• If you notice you have been unable to rest or enjoy anything for a long time, talk to a trusted adult or doctor. See the Stress and Mental Health modules.

Saying no to protect what matters

• Purpose helps you choose. When something new comes up, ask: 'Does this fit my values and goals, and what would I have to give up?'
• A polite no: 'Thank you for thinking of me. I can't take this on right now because I've committed to my exams, but please ask me again next term.'
• Watch out for overcommitting to activities chosen only to impress universities. Depth in a few things is usually more meaningful than a long list.
• Schedule rest and fun like appointments, so they do not get squeezed out.