Work-life balance is the holy grail of the 21st century. It is hard to balance the demands of both a job and a family. One has to remember that work life and personal life are the two sides of the same coin. However, striking a perfect balance between your home and work life is something one can only dream of.
Now-a-days, you may find yourself working non-stop from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m, even answering emails during mealtime. Work easily invades our personal lives because of the simple fact that money dominates the modern life. But by having the work-life balance you will feel less stress and greater satisfaction in the way you're living and working. So here are a few tips to help you regain control:
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Plan: It's always a good idea to plan out your schedule for the next day to make the most of your time. Remember to not only fill it with work but also non-work commitments like time for family, housework, sleeping and to do something enjoyable. Treat non-work commitments as seriously as you treat working commitments.
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Say "No": Work-life balance cannot be successful without effective priority setting. You can easily commit more time than you have by not able to refuse new responsibilities, favors, or even casual requests. Make a point to seriously consider each request that comes your way and respectfully say "no" to the things that matter least. Saying "no" is easier than disappointing yourself and the other person when you won't be able to do well because you're too overwhelmed.
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Increase effective time at work: Many people spend long hours at work without knowing the effective time they spend actually working. If you are one of them then spend a week tracking everything you do and the amount of time you spend on them, including work-related and personal activities. At the end of the week, you'll be surprised to know the amount of time you are spending on activities (like checking the email many times a day) which are not essential to completing your high impact work. By reducing the amount of time you spend on such activities, you can accomplish the same work by spending less time in office.
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Leave work at work: The boundary between work and home is fast disappearing, thanks to the technology to connect to anyone at any time from anywhere. This means we are not only working from home (even after spending the whole day at work) but also bringing the work-related stress home. This can be detrimental to your relationship with your child or significant other. You need to make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. Turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer, when you are with your family.
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Take vacations: Take all the vacation you are allotted otherwise you will be facing a burnout. A healthy work life balance involves taking some days off from the office.
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Work from home: Some offices do allow you to work from home. This way you can take some time out for a home cooked lunch, or help out with the home chores and work simultaneously. This also allows for more time with the family. Some offices also offer other flexibilities like flexible working hours or a compressed workweek. These can give you more control over your hours.
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Exercise: Exercise is a sure-fire way to get your mind off of work. Even a half hour of moderate exercise will give you energy and give you the power to face the day. Doing exercises each day enlivens you and gives you the spirit and resourcefulness to do your best.
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Diet: Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of water. Fast food, while a convenient time saver, can lead to weight and health problems. The health problems will further complicate your work life balance.
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Relax: Without proper sleep, you aren't able to properly function. So take time to relax yourself by getting at least 8 hours of sleep. You can also use meditation and yoga to relax yourself.
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Avoid procrastination: Learn to set more realistic goals and deadlines and then stick to them. Manage your time efficiently. Don't put off working on a project until the last minute; get things done when they are required to be done.
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Develop a support system: A strong support system in the form of a trusted friend or co-worker can help you withstand pressures that you may experience in your life. When a family conflict arise, they can cover for you at work and when you need to work overtime or travel for work, they can pitch in with household responsibilities or child care.
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Avoid Guilt: No need to feel awful about not being perfect. There's no balance without give and take. So be flexible when you can, and avoid guilt if you don't match up to the expectations.
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Simplify: Life tends to get pretty complex, especially for people trying to balance so many demands. Live simply, expect less and give more.
Many people today are too busy making a living that they don't have time to make a life. Start setting yourself apart from the competition today!
