Welcome to Balancing This Life!

This blog is my little place of joy and mindfulness—a space for parents and caregivers who are striving not for perfection, but to give their best in raising happy, resilient kids. Modern life often feels like a chaotic stream of events, full of challenges and surprises that can leave us feeling ungrounded. Balancing the many roles and tasks of daily life is no easy feat, especially with the constant pressures surrounding us.

I’ve come to see balance as the cornerstone of happiness and comfort in a world that often pulls us in every direction. It’s not about having everything perfectly in place, but about finding small moments of calm within the chaos.

Here, I share my journey, reseach-driven information, insights, and practical tools to help families navigate this beautiful mess we call life with a little more ease and joy

‘Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.’

– Thomas Merton

But let me introduce myself first. I am an immigrant, a mother of a bilingual child (with a second on the way), the proud owner of two amazing Shiba Inu dogs, and a PhD in Interactive Technology. I live in Finland—the happiest and, in my eyes, one of the most beautiful countries in the world—despite its famously challenging climate. Imagine spending half the year in darkness and cold!

My life is often a little chaotic, and I’m still on my journey to building a better future, navigating a new culture and language. But I know I’m not alone! There are countless others like me, who are navigating and seeking balance in every aspect of life: parenting, emotional state, physical and mental well-being, work and family, self-care, and more.

That’s why I started Balancing This Life. As a researcher, I’ve integrated many research-based practices and routines into my own life, and I’ve seen the difference they can make. The main problem with research is that it’s not widely available—and even when it is, it’s not always easy to understand. My goal is to bridge that gap by sharing research-based insights and practical advice to make a difference and help families navigate parenting, bilingualism, self-care, and technology with greater ease. This blog is more than just a collection of tips—it’s a resource rooted in science and real-world experience, designed to inspire meaningful change and provide tools for a more balanced, fulfilling life.

What You’ll Find Here

• Parenting Insights: Tips and research-inspired techniques to help you navigate the joys and challenges of raising kids.
• Bilingualism Resources: Practical advice and tools for fostering language learning at home, along with evidence-based benefits of raising bilingual children.
• Self-Care Inspiration: Ideas for prioritizing your mental, emotional, and physical well-being, even on the busiest of days.
• Tech for Families: Guides and recommendations on using technology to simplify parenting, streamline your routine, and create meaningful connections.

I hope Balancing This Life becomes a place where you can find encouragement, practical guidance, and perhaps a few moments of calm in your day. Together, we can explore what it means to balance the challenges of modern life while staying connected to what truly matters. Thank you for being here—I can’t wait to share this journey with you.

With balance and joy,

Alissa