6 Tips for Maintaining an Ideal Work Life-Balance

Living a satisfying and successful life demands that we exercise a certain amount of flexibility in work and daily life. This means we have to strive to schedule equal time for each. Unfortunately, this goal is easier said than done, especially for those who work in highly demanding jobs that require working extended hours.

Though it may be difficult, achieving a healthy work life-balance is vital to your overall wellbeing. Some of the recognized benefits include higher levels of job satisfaction, better productivity, reduced stress levels, and improved relationships with family and the community. So how can you juggle both work and life responsibilities without burning yourself out? Here are six essential tips to help make both worlds work for you.

1. Reject the unnecessary

Today more than ever, there are so many distractions designed to draw you in and make you less efficient without you even noticing it. For instance, you’ve programmed your social media and email accounts to notify and alert you in case something ‘important’ pops up, but are they really important, so to speak? Make a list of everything that pulls you away from your most vital responsibilities and reduces the amount of time and energy you spend on them.

Try this:

Distractions can sometimes come from within. If you can’t seem to focus on tasks, it may be time for a self-evaluation. What’s the source of your inner distraction? What are the areas of your life that you need to work on? Invest some time into sorting out your priorities. When you know the cause, you can fix the effect.

2. Plan out how to complete your tasks more efficiently

Create an activity log that designates the timeline of your tasks in a day, in a week, and even in a month. Break each task into manageable subtasks. An activity log can help you identify your priorities, so you can monitor where the hours go. Include commitments outside work, such as family outings, birthday parties, etc., so you don’t forget that you shouldn’t be working during those times.

Try this:

Identify three to five goals a week, both for work and personal time. Make a checklist of the tasks and activities that impact these goals. Set a schedule in your calendar for these tasks and activities so you can focus on them. Do this every time before beginning your work week.

3. Communicate your needs

If work is putting too much stress on you and keeping you away from spending quality time with your loved ones, recognize your limits, and negotiate an agreement with your manager. It can help if you can work out a family-friendly working arrangement, but make sure to know what you’re entitled to. Strive for a win-win deal by anticipating your manager’s concerns and identifying how the business can benefit by allowing you more flexibility at work.

Try this:

Send an email request to your boss saying that you would like to meet about achieving a better work life-balance. If this seems intimidating, remember that this concerns your life directly. Also, keep in mind that your company has an investment in you, so keeping you happy with your job should be at the top of their concerns. Before your meeting, refer to your HR department to see if there are any available flexibility programs that they offer, such as changing your work hours, or even work days,in a way that could work for you and your boss.

4. Be firm about your priorities

It’s easy to say yes to every task thrown at your feet, but you need to draw a line between your responsibilities at work and what you do at home. Learn to compartmentalize and make every effort to keep work and life separate. It is of utmost importance that the devices, tools, and media that you use for work does not penetrate your personal life. Every single day set aside some time to spend with the people important to you.

Try this:

Perhaps the reason you can’t say no to people adding to your workload is that you’re afraid to feel guilty about it, or that you’ll come off as mean or selfish. That said, to become comfortable and guilt-free with saying no, you need to first realize what you stand for. When you are clear with your principles, it’s easier to refuse people, and they will be more inclined to respect your response.

5. Exercise and meditate

You need to ensure that your mind and body are strong enough to handle the rigors of daily life. Exercise and meditation are effective stress reducers, not to mention among the human body’s most crucial needs. Finding time to hit the gym or do yoga may be next to impossible with a hectic schedule, but it will be extremely beneficial for you in the long run.

Try this:

If you’re really pressed for time, try closing your eyes and practicing deep breathing during your commute. If the office is just close by, try walking every day to get to and from there. If mornings and afternoons are a no-go, perhaps you can use your lunch break to take a walk, work out, or do some form of exercise. That little 15 minutes you put in can reinvigorate and empower you to be more focused and alert in your daily tasks.

6. Stop being a perfectionist all the time

Do you get frustrated when you can’t complete your work to your idea of perfection? It’s easy to maintain a perfectionist habit back when you were in school, but in the real world, things aren’t that cut-and-dry. As your responsibilities become more complex, being a perfectionist can become a burden.

Try this:

It’s easy to confuse being a perfectionist with having high standards, but the two are entirely different. Realize that while having high standards is healthy, perfectionism is not. Set realistic goals to replace your perfectionist expectations and think of mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.

Feel that your current career trajectory is not giving you the work life-balance you want? Resumeble can supply you with professional resume writing services to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market.6 Tips for Maintaining an Ideal Work Life-Balance

Living a satisfying and successful life demands that we exercise a certain amount of flexibility in work and daily life. This means we have to strive to schedule equal time for each. Unfortunately, this goal is easier said than done, especially for those who work in highly demanding jobs that require working extended hours.

Though it may be difficult, achieving a healthy work life-balance is vital to your overall wellbeing. Some of the recognized benefits include higher levels of job satisfaction, better productivity, reduced stress levels, and improved relationships with family and the community. So how can you juggle both work and life responsibilities without burning yourself out? Here are six essential tips to help make both worlds work for you.

1. Reject the unnecessary

Today more than ever, there are so many distractions designed to draw you in and make you less efficient without you even noticing it. For instance, you’ve programmed your social media and email accounts to notify and alert you in case something ‘important’ pops up, but are they really important, so to speak? Make a list of everything that pulls you away from your most vital responsibilities and reduces the amount of time and energy you spend on them.

Try this:

Distractions can sometimes come from within. If you can’t seem to focus on tasks, it may be time for a self-evaluation. What’s the source of your inner distraction? What are the areas of your life that you need to work on? Invest some time into sorting out your priorities. When you know the cause, you can fix the effect.

2. Plan out how to complete your tasks more efficiently

Create an activity log that designates the timeline of your tasks in a day, in a week, and even in a month. Break each task into manageable subtasks. An activity log can help you identify your priorities, so you can monitor where the hours go. Include commitments outside work, such as family outings, birthday parties, etc., so you don’t forget that you shouldn’t be working during those times.

Try this:

Identify three to five goals a week, both for work and personal time. Make a checklist of the tasks and activities that impact these goals. Set a schedule in your calendar for these tasks and activities so you can focus on them. Do this every time before beginning your work week.

3. Communicate your needs

If work is putting too much stress on you and keeping you away from spending quality time with your loved ones, recognize your limits, and negotiate an agreement with your manager. It can help if you can work out a family-friendly working arrangement, but make sure to know what you’re entitled to. Strive for a win-win deal by anticipating your manager’s concerns and identifying how the business can benefit by allowing you more flexibility at work.

Try this:

Send an email request to your boss saying that you would like to meet about achieving a better work life-balance. If this seems intimidating, remember that this concerns your life directly. Also, keep in mind that your company has an investment in you, so keeping you happy with your job should be at the top of their concerns. Before your meeting, refer to your HR department to see if there are any available flexibility programs that they offer, such as changing your work hours, or even work days,in a way that could work for you and your boss.

4. Be firm about your priorities

It’s easy to say yes to every task thrown at your feet, but you need to draw a line between your responsibilities at work and what you do at home. Learn to compartmentalize and make every effort to keep work and life separate. It is of utmost importance that the devices, tools, and media that you use for work does not penetrate your personal life. Every single day set aside some time to spend with the people important to you.

Try this:

Perhaps the reason you can’t say no to people adding to your workload is that you’re afraid to feel guilty about it, or that you’ll come off as mean or selfish. That said, to become comfortable and guilt-free with saying no, you need to first realize what you stand for. When you are clear with your principles, it’s easier to refuse people, and they will be more inclined to respect your response.

5. Exercise and meditate

You need to ensure that your mind and body are strong enough to handle the rigors of daily life. Exercise and meditation are effective stress reducers, not to mention among the human body’s most crucial needs. Finding time to hit the gym or do yoga may be next to impossible with a hectic schedule, but it will be extremely beneficial for you in the long run.

Try this:

If you’re really pressed for time, try closing your eyes and practicing deep breathing during your commute. If the office is just close by, try walking every day to get to and from there. If mornings and afternoons are a no-go, perhaps you can use your lunch break to take a walk, work out, or do some form of exercise. That little 15 minutes you put in can reinvigorate and empower you to be more focused and alert in your daily tasks.

6. Stop being a perfectionist all the time

Do you get frustrated when you can’t complete your work to your idea of perfection? It’s easy to maintain a perfectionist habit back when you were in school, but in the real world, things aren’t that cut-and-dry. As your responsibilities become more complex, being a perfectionist can become a burden.

Try this:

It’s easy to confuse being a perfectionist with having high standards, but the two are entirely different. Realize that while having high standards is healthy, perfectionism is not. Set realistic goals to replace your perfectionist expectations and think of mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.

Feel that your current career trajectory is not giving you the work life-balance you want? Resumeble Packages can supply you with professional resume writing services to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market.