Definition: When life coaches talk about "structures", we're generally referring to the systems in our lives that streamline a task or process. Classes, routines, protocols—they're all types of life structures that help us get things done. Have a game night with a group of friends, and it's a fun evening; make a plan to get together for games once a month and decide who brings games, food, and drinks, and you've created a life structure that allows you to have this fun on a regular basis. Life structures work for maintaining a balanced life because once you've put the work into creating a structure around an activity that's important to you, it becomes much easier to maintain this activity in your life.
Exercise classes are life structures that help maintain wellness, hiring a weekly housekeeper is a life structure that can eliminate mess, and a weekly menu plan is a life structure that can help you maintain a healthy diet. Even the act of keeping a gym bag in your car can be a life structure that streamlines your ability to fit regular workouts into your schedule. Life structures can cut down on the stress of life by helping us to more easily maintain positive habits.
See this article for more on using life structures to cut down on life's stressors.
Also Known As: structures, lifestyle structures
Examples:
"Reading About.com's free stress management newsletter has inspired me to create several life structures that have helped me cut down on stress in my life."
