Maintaining a Work-Life Balance

There was a time when the boundaries between work and home were fairly clear. No thanks to technology and the need for immediate communication, separating our professional lives from our personal lives is becoming more difficult. Many professionals are in your same boat and are searching for a way to be successful in all aspects of their lives. Many are growing increasingly concerned about losing jobs, so they make up for working longer hours. Yes, there are bills to pay, mouths to feed and ambitions to satisfy; but should it ever be at the expense of your health, or time spent with loved ones? Stress is now the #1 form of work-related illness and much of it is down to an inability to find and maintain a balance between work and life. As long as you're working, juggling the demands of career and personal life will probably be an ongoing challenge. Creating a work-life balance can definitely be a challenge at times, but by achieving a good balance in life is key to one’s happiness and overall health. You can't manufacture time. If you don't set limits, then work or other obligations can leave you with no time for the activities and relationships you enjoy. 

Fortunately, many people are able to find a lot of fulfillment in their work -- whether that comes from the customers they serve or the colleagues they enjoy working with. However, it’s still true that “all work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” So if you’re a workaholic, what can you do to reclaim your spare time?  Work-life balance means something different to every individual, consider these realistic strategies you help your work/life balance in check. 

1. Let go of perfectionism

Perfectionists have unattainably high standards for themselves. They are exceedingly concerned about others’ evaluation of them, hardly ever satisfied with their performance, and blame themselves when things go wrong—even when they are not directly involved or responsible. Pressuring oneself to achieve lofty and unrealistic goals inevitably sets the person up for disappointment and saps them of energy. The key to avoid burning out is to let go of perfectionism. Now we’re not asking you to produce sloppy work, we’re just pointing out that ‘perfection’ is impossible so stop trying to chase a unicorn. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just give ourselves—and others—a break? The healthier option is to strive not for perfection, but for excellence.

2. Unplug

From telecommuting to programs that make work easier, technology has helped our lives in many ways. But it has also created expectations of constant accessibility. Staying on top of your emails outside work hours creates a vicious cycle where people expect you to respond to emails at all hours. All this technology keeps you hooked to work or to useless activities that prevent you from important activities like getting enough rest, spending quality time with people you connect with, and engaging in things that make you happy and help you relax. However, remember that you have power over your devices. Remember that it’s okay to disconnect, and communicate to your employer that you won’t be available after a certain time. Designate a certain amount of time to ‘unplug’ yourself from your mobile phone and the Internet. Check emails no more than three times a day—late morning, early afternoon and late in the day. If you absolutely cannot miss a particularly urgent email, try setting up your account to only forward priority emails to you. Once you do this, you’ll see a reduction in your stress levels, and you’ll be able to spend more quality time with your loved ones.

3. Stop wearing busyness as a badge of honor

We’re all guilty of this one. It seems that we love being busy, and we can’t resist a good humblebrag about it! Somewhere down the line, busyness has become synonymous with success and status. There’s a perception that, ‘if you’re busy, you’re important. You’re leading a full and worthy life.’ Just think about it. How often have you heard a colleague brag about their 16-hour workday, or boast about how they can get by on just 4 hours of sleep? Don’t be that person. It's actually annoying and infuriating for people around you and it makes you look like...a martyr! It only encourages us to cram in more work, when what we really need to do is less. Feeling guilty about not being busy just isn’t healthy, so go ahead and make time to do what you really love, and enjoy it. 

4. Learn to say ‘no’ 

When you’re trying to get ahead and want to impress your employer, it can be counter-productive to make yourself available 24/7 to colleagues and bosses. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to take over an extra project or your boss asking you to pick up extra shifts, remember that it’s OK to respectfully say no. If you tend to say yes without thinking when you’re asked to do something extra, stall. Say you’ll get back to the person asking, then use that time to think clearly about whether to say yes or no. If you want to say yes, fine. But if you want to say no, say no and keep saying it. Don’t justify your actions or give excuses. Managers and bosses will respect that you know how to manage your time properly, and that you’re not biting off more than you can chew.

5. Leave work at work

Imagine you’re just about to leave your workplace, possibly for after-work cocktails at a nearby bar, even though it’s actually Tuesday. Before you do, write a note to yourself listing any unfinished tasks and work-related things that are on your mind, and tackle it the following morning. Leave work at work, don’t come with it. Learn to set boundaries and make it a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. Once you leave the office, work should be forbidden because it is time to relax and unwind. 

6. Take your lunch break and get out of the office

Too many of us are guilty of eating our lunch at our desks, and our brains and bodies are all the poorer for it. Lunch breaks are an important part of the day where you get to take a breather, mentally refocus and head back to work feeling re-energised. So make time to take your full 1-hour lunch break, and use it as an excuse to walk away from your desk. This is good for you—but even better for your employer because you’ll increase your productivity at the same time, too. 

7. Don’t multitask

Multitasking as a way to improve productivity just doesn’t work. It is a myth, and trying to do it only splits your focus. Every time you multitask you aren’t just harming your performance in the moment; you may very well be damaging an area of your brain that’s critical to your future success at work. Don’t multitask. Draw a rigid boundary around anything that you are currently doing. If you are in a team meeting do not look at your cell phone to read emails. This way, you can dramatically reduce stress and improve outcomes at work and in your personal life. 

8. Exercise and meditate

We know that there are countless studies that show a direct correlation between health, productivity and energy levels to exercise, yet it is still a challenge to squeeze it in a jam-packed schedule. Regular exercise is not only good for you physically, but the American Psychological Association found it also has ties to helping the human brain cope with stress, depression, and anxiety. Exercise pumps feel-good endorphins through your body. It helps lift your mood and can even serve a one-two punch by also putting you in a meditative state, according to the Mayo Clinic. Research showed that exercise causes a release of norepinephrine, which is a neuromodulator that helps the brain handle stress. We recommend dedicating a few chunks of time each week to physical activities, whether it’s exercise, yoga, or meditation. And if you’re really pressed for time, start small with deep breathing exercises during your commute, or a quick five minute meditation session morning and night. These exercises require minor effort but offer major payoffs. 

9. Limit time-wasting activities and people

When you are a working woman, every minute is crucial—at work or at home. Many people waste their time on activities or people that add no value—for example, spending too much time at work with chatty coworkers who are constantly venting and gossiping, or mindlessly surfing Facebook. You would be astonished to know that distractions at workplace can cost you more than three hours a day. If you want to be focused and productive, it’s essential to keep all these distractions at bay. At home, avoid watching too much of TV and instead, use that time to strengthen your bond with your partner and kids. Draw firm boundaries from activities that don’t enhance your career or personal life, so that you can devote quality time to the high-priority people and activities. You may even be able to leave work earlier if you make a conscious effort to limit the time you spend on the web and social media sites.

10. Leave the office on time 

It’s a lot easier said than done, but leaving the office on time shouldn’t be a ‘treat’—it should be the norm, and it should be non-negotiable! If you make it a priority, and stick to arriving and leaving on schedule, clocking off on time is an extremely reasonable goal. Just don’t let yourself fall into the trap of thinking you should just try to get this project done, or finish off that task by the day. If you keep thinking this way, you’ll never leave the office! There will always be more work to do. So knock off on time and enjoy work-free evening doing the things you love.

11. Set aside time for yourself

Finally, respect yourself. It’s okay to think about yourself, have some leisure time and pamper yourself. Making out some time to do things you actually love is the secret to maintaining a perfect work-life balance. When you plan your week, make it a point to schedule time with your family and friends, and activities that help you recharge. If a date night with your partner or a brunch with friends is on your calendar, you’ll have something to look forward to and an extra incentive to manage your time well so you don’t have to cancel. Go to spa, get a massage, watch reruns of your favorite TV series, read a book, travel solo, or just do nothing at all. Learn to take care of yourself because only then you would be able to take care of your family and your work.