Sometimes, maintaining a good work life balance can feel like juggling eggs. Demanding work, blurred lines between work and personal time, and the envy of seeing others seemingly effortlessly managing their own balance can make it tough to carve out space for yourself. High performing company cultures , financial pressures, and even our own perfectionism all conspire against us. Understanding these challenges and developing strategies like setting boundaries, saying no, and prioritising personal fulfillment can help you create a healthier, more fulfilling life where work and life coexist. If you feel like work is taking over and you don't have any time for your self, have a look at some of our tips for maintaining a better work life balance and ensuring you have some time for yourself.
Ah, the elusive "perfect" work-life balance. It's something we all strive for; that sweet spot where our professional and personal lives co-exist harmoniously, enriching each other instead of pulling us in opposite directions. But let's be real, achieving that balance can be about as rare as finding a unicorn. The good news is, there is no one size fits all approach, and the only secret there is to it, is finding what works for you. So, here are some tips to get you on your way to finding the secret formula of your perfect work-life balance.
Achieving a work-life balance is crucial for our well-being, both physically and mentally. It's about giving equal importance to our professional and personal lives, ensuring that neither side consumes the other. Chronic stress from work can lead to a variety of health problems like anxiety, depression, or heart disease: the list goes on. Maintaining a healthy balance reduces stress levels and improves our overall health.
Personal benefits of maintaining a good work life balance include stronger relationships through a better ability to be present and engaged in our personal lives, and reduced burnout giving us the ability to feel more motivated and engaged when actually at work. Ultimately, a healthy work-life balance leads to a happier and more fulfilling life. When we feel balanced and in control, we're better able to enjoy all aspects of our lives.
-Too much responsibility. Too many to dos at work can leave you feeling overwhelmed, especially when you’re not getting everything done and things start piling up, and maybe even overflowing into your personal life. Sending emails, making calls, and finishing off work at home is the very definition of a poor work life balance.
-Long hours. Spending more than the standard 8 hours a day at work takes away from the time that should be spent on yourself or with the people you care about most. While in some rare scenarios people might work 10-hour days, rather than 8, in an effort to cram as much work as possible into 4 days and have a 3-day weekend, it’s more often the case that people work overtime and don’t get anything in return.
-Company Culture. Some companies have very competitive or high performing cultures, and sometimes this make employees feel pressured to work long hours or dedicate personal and family time towards work.
-Time management. If you aren’t able to manage your time at work effectively and end up having to finish up your responsibilities after hours, this one’s on you. On the bright side, however, with a little planning and effort you can turn this around.
-Lack of flexibility. Work life balance suffers when employees don’t get any flexibility with their schedules. Inability to work remotely or adjust the hours they spend in office can also have an impact on work-life balance.
Time management.
Plan and prioritise. Every day or every week, create a schedule that allocates time for both work and personal activities. Ensure that you’re making time to get work done first. Getting the hard stuff done as soon as possible will leave you feeling accomplished and guiltfree when it’s time to relax. Make sure to schedule time for the things you really want to do, and learn to say no when something work related might interfere with this. Whether you’re making time to socialise with family, friends, or work mates, remember that time taken for yourself is equally important to time spent working.
Learn to say no.
Learning to say no isn’t about being selfish or negative, it’s about setting boundaries between your work life and personal life and protecting your time and energy. If you allow yourself to be available 24/7, you make it easy for your employer or colleagues to take advantage of your positive attitude. People may unintentionally (or even intentionally) rely on your unwavering willingness to say yes, leaving you feeling drained and resentful. This can manifest in subtle ways, like colleagues dumping extra tasks on your plate, and employers expecting you to drop everything at their beck and call. Your time is your most precious resource, and it deserves to be managed as such.
Disconnect and recharge
Unplugging from work during your non-working hours is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and promoting overall wellbeing. When you make a conscious effort to unplug from work, meaning no calls, emails, or online meetings, you’re creating a clear boundary between your professional and personal life. Learn to use this time for activities you actually enjoy, whether it’s getting lost in a good book or getting a sweat on in the gym. Your after work hobbies don’t just bring you joy, they help you unwind and de-stress, and serve as crucial elements to yourself-care routine.
Work in focused bursts
To enhance your productivity while actually working, try working in focused bursts to make the most out of your time at work. Your work-life balance can take a hit when you have a hard time concentrating, and when working at home this can happen all too easily with distractions all around causing your concentration to waver.
Try this for improving on your concentration and productivity.
- setting a timer for 25 to 50 minutes for a single task.
- writing down any distracting thoughts that come up so you can address them later.
- taking a short break after each focused spurt.
Actually use your days off
Taking your days off is like hitting the reset button on your work-life balance. It’s not just about taking a break from daily tasks, using your leave days provides a chance to completely disengage and recharge. Stepping away from the pressure cooker, you return refreshed, motivated, and ready to conquer challenges with renewed focus and efficiency.
Ask for help
There’s no shame in it! Asking for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed by work tasks and duties can sometimes be necessary when you’ve taken on too big of a workload. We are more productive and happier in our lives when we have a strong support system around us, so reaching out to a friend to vent to, or asking a co-worker to help you pick up some slack can be a game changer. Sometimes demands upon you are greater than you can deal with, and in those situations recognising the need for help is a strength, not a weakness, as it demonstrates a commitment to your well-being and your dedication to delivering quality work.
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