Create a Work-Life Balance that Works for You

Finding a work-life balance is good for both your physical and mental health. But many times, heavy job responsibilities steal that balance away. When that happens, both our work and home life can suffer unwanted consequences.

 
But how can you achieve that balance and still excel at your job?

Use these strategies to create the work-life balance you seek:

1. Avoid checking your work emails outside the office. While in the office, you’ll probably check your work emails often to ensure that any meetings and deadlines are met. However, checking them when you’re off work allows your work life to encroach on your home life.

● Set boundaries with yourself and your work colleagues regarding emails, so that you can take care of work communications only while at work.

2. Learn to say no. You may love your job, but it’s usually unnecessary to be available to your boss 24/7. We all need a break occasionally, and there is nothing wrong with saying no once in a while. Especially outside of your allotted work hours.

3. Work smarter, not harder. Instead of working all hours of the day, with very little rest, work smarter. You’ll actually get more done in a shorter period of time.

● Prioritize important tasks and do these tasks first each day. This way, the most important things always get done.

● Avoid unproductive activities, such as unstructured meetings or constantly checking your social media accounts.

4. Leave work at work. This may be hard, and may not always be possible, but when you clock off for the day, make a mental note that work has finished.

● Perhaps take a moment to acknowledge that work has finished by stopping and taking a breath before your commute home. The reason for this is to ensure that you are not bringing the work and any stress associated with it home.

5. You don’t need to be perfect. Have you ever been on your way out of the office, only to turn back around because you thought of a way to make a report or task perfect? Sometimes, it pays to remind yourself that you and your work are good enough.

6. Focus on things outside work. For some of us, our work is our life, but what happens if one day we lose our job? Where does that leave us? It may be a scary thought, but it’s important to have a life outside work.

● Develop some hobbies that interest you. Spending time doing something that you love reduces stress and energizes you while relaxing you and uplifting your mood. Add some “happy time” to your life!

7. Make your own rules. There has been a shift in work attitudes, especially among younger workers. More people - even bosses - are recognizing the value of work-life balance. Come up with your own ideas that will help you separate your work from your home life and run them by your boss. They might just agree!

Finding a balance between work and your home life can be difficult, but it’s well worth the effort!