Have you been struggling to achieve a work-life balance? Well, you are not alone. It can be worrying and it is a good thing you are looking for tips to restore that balance, by learning how to better manage your time and look after yourself.
The boundaries between work and home were quite clear, but with busy schedules, cutthroat competition, and remote working, they have blurrier than ever. Today, work is more likely to get into your personal life, making it hard to maintain a work-life balance. This is especially the case when you have to work long hours. Thanks to technology allowing constant connection and accessibility, work can easily bleed into your home time. Working remotely also blurs your personal and professional boundaries.
However, this does not mean it is impossible to achieve a work-life balance. In this read, we are going to explore several easy and straightforward ways to help you achieve this balance:
Consider the Cost If You’re Married to Your Work
If you find yourself working most of the time, chances are your professional and personal life has taken a hit. Consider the following repercussions of poor work-life balance:
- Poor Health- Poor work to life balance can result in stress which worsens the symptoms related to most medical conditions in addition to putting you at risk of alcohol and substance abuse.
- Fatigue- When you are tired, your ability to think clearly and be productive diminishes. This has the ability to hurt your professional reputation and result in costly or dangerous mistakes.
- Lost time with loved ones- If you are working all the time, you are bound to miss important events or milestones of your loved ones. This can easily make you feel left out and cause your relationships to suffer and even cause suspicions to be aroused and your phone tracked by a spouse.
Set a Better Professional and Personal Life Balance
As long as you are working, handling the demands of both your personal and professional life will be an ongoing challenge. However, if you set limits and look after yourself, it is relatively easy to achieve an ideal work-to-life balance.
Set Limits
If you do not create limits, work is bound to leave you with little time for social relationships and your favorite activities. That being said, you may want to consider the following strategies:
- Learn to Say NO!
Assess your priorities both at home and work and attempt to shorten that to-do list. Remove or delegate tasks that you cannot handle or do not enjoy doing. An alternative is to share your concerns and potential solutions with your boss or colleagues. When you stop accepting tasks due to a false sense of obligation or out of guilt, then you will have more time for things that are more meaningful in your life.
- Manage Your Time
Ensure you dedicate adequate time to get tasks done and do not overschedule.
- Detach From Work
Working remotely or using technology to connect to work on a regular basis while at home can easily make you feel like you’re always working. This can result in chronic stress. As such, make sure you seek guidance from your boss regarding expectations for when you can disconnect. If you work remotely, have a quiet dedicated workspace and dress for work. When you are done, detach from work and transition to personal life by changing your clothes, taking a walk or drive, or even engaging in an activity with your loved ones.
Looking After Yourself
A healthy lifestyle is vital to avoiding stress and achieving work to life balance. Eat a balanced diet, be physically and mentally active and get adequate sleep. Ensure you aim to do the following as well:
- Relax
You’ll want to set time aside for tasks that you enjoy like yoga, reading, gardening, or playing video games. Hobbies will help you relax, take your mind off work and rejuvenate. In addition, you will get to discover things you can do with your loved ones like hiking, cooking or dancing.
- Volunteer
According to studies, volunteering to help others has the potential to improve your connections with other people and result in better life satisfaction.
- Know When to Get Professional Help
If you are feeling your life is too chaotic to manage on your own or are having a spiral of negative thoughts, it’s best to seek professional help.
With these tips, you should be in a better position to get a healthy work-to-life balance.
