How to Keep a Work-life Balance
Maintaining a work-life balance is not that difficult, when you are working from home. In fact, there are also many homeworkers who are struggling to achieve a work balance as the lines are blurred.
Sometimes, work takes priority over other things in your life. Your ambition to succeed professionally can lead you to keep your personal life separate. However, establishing a good work-life balance or integration is important, it is to improve not only your physical, emotional and mental health, but it is also essential for your career.
These days, a work-life balance seems impossible. High-tech keeps employees available around the clock. Fear of losing your job leads to longer working hours. In fact, 94% of employers report working more than 50 hours a week and nearly half say they work more than 65 hours a week (Harvard survey).
The combined stress of a never ending work day can be devastating and can take a toll on your relationships, health, and happiness.
Work-life Balance Definition
What is a work-life balance? It means how people in the workplace manage the time they spend on and off the job. Time outside of work could consist of managing your relationships, family responsibilities, other outside interests and hobbies.
Why Work-life Balance Importance?
In short, work-life balance is a situation in which a person succeeds in aligning the demands of his career with the demands of his personal life. Some common reasons that lead people to poor work-life balance include:
- Increased responsibilities at home
- Working longer
- Increased obligations in the workplace
Employees who have a positive work-life balance do a better job in the workplace, so promoting this balance is highly recommended for both individuals and companies.
It is a guide for employers who wish to promote a healthy work-life balance for their employees.
Best Work-life Balance Tips
Find a job you love.
Your profession should not be limited. If you dislike your job, you aren't going to be happy. You also won't like every single thing about your job, and you'll dread getting out of bed every Monday.
Find a job you really enjoy. If your job is draining you, and you're finding it difficult to do the things you enjoy outside of work, something is definitely wrong.
You might work in a toxic environment, have a partner with a toxic type of person, or be doing a job you really don't like. If so, maybe it's time for you to find a new job.
Find the right workspace for you
If you're used to going to work every day, the separation between work and home should be physical. Your work space doesn't have to be a personal space, but it should feel different from the relaxation of your home. Try to make your workspace comfortable as well, and make sure you take breaks too.
Share Your Job.
You don't have to do it all! Get help from fellow personnel or members of your household.
Delegate responsibility, and you'll get everything done on time. Teamwork is a great thing, and it makes everyone feel like they have contributed.
Make workout a must-do, not a "should" do
It's easy to cancel a gym class, morning jog, or yoga, because the customer wants something you need to do right away. Instead, ensure that training is given the same priority as your customer.
A healthy body means a clean mind, which will have the potential to perform better and more comprehensive tasks in less time. (forbes)
Be eco-friendly with your time at work.
When you procrastinate, projects will pile up in your mind until they seem unbearable.
So, whether you're running a large business at work or home, start by breaking it down into smaller tasks. Complete the first one before moving on to the next.
Reward yourself with each completion, like strolling into an espresso shop. If you feel overwhelmed by a seemingly unnecessary routine, tell your boss. The less time you can spend doing your job without procrastinating, the more extra time you can spend productively, with friends or family.
Set Boundaries
Set realistic, honest, and practical boundaries for what you will and won't do, both at work and at home.
Clearly state these boundaries to your supervisors, coworkers and family. For example, you can commit to no longer working overtime on holidays, unless there is a special occasion. Additionally, set aside a time at home where you won't be viewing or responding to work-related emails and voicemails.
Take a vacation.
Sometimes, being honest means taking time off, and temporarily stopping work.
Whether your vacation is a one-day staycation or a two-week getaway to Hawaii, you need to take the time to recharge your body and mind.
According to research conducted by the U.S. Travel Association, 52% of people say they have some unused vacation left at the end of the year.
Employees often worry that taking time off will disrupt their workflow, and they will face a backlog of work when they return. This fear should not have happened, because rest is needed.
The benefits of taking a day off far outweigh the disadvantages. With proper planning, you can save time, as well as demanding workloads from your co-workers, or handling heavy workloads when you return.
Eliminate Distractions.
If your personal life gets in the way of your work, set some boundaries. Avoid frequent personal calls or private visits.
Leave your smartphone in the car or turn it off during business hours.
Hold off on socializing with co-workers until your work is done.
Once you realize how to streamline your workday, you will find that you are no longer afraid to go to work and take everything home. Imagine and understand that you are ready to start your day, instead of enjoying the traps of yesterday.
Be real
At the end of each work day, do a little self analysis. Ask yourself what worked today, what hasn't, what went wrong, and how the problem could be fixed.
Remember! there are many groups like you studying in the same class everyday. Don't forget to use the valuable resources around you – your friends – for help.
Speak with Your Boss
It can be beneficial to openly track correspondence with your office director, HR and supervisors. Be 100% official and direct. For example, if you can't work on time because you want to take your child to class, they can provide you with a set of adjustable working hours.
Spend time alone with loved ones.
Even though your work is important, it doesn't mean that it continues for your whole life. You have been a person before taking this position, and you should prioritize things to do, or entertainment that makes you happy. Achieving work-life stability takes intentional action.
If you're not sketching for personal time, you won't have time to do anything else outside of work. No matter how annoying your agenda is, you can eventually manage your time and your life.
When planning time with your loved ones, make a calendar for romantic dates with your partner. It might seem weird to picture one-on-one time with anyone you live with, but it will ensure that you have a great time with them.
Just because you're busy at work doesn't mean you have to neglect personal relationships.
Realize that no one in your workplace will love or admire you the way your loved ones do.
Work Smarter Not Harder
Using extra time successfully is an essential talent that everyone from receptionists to CEOs can learn.
Adopting the right combination of time management practices can reduce the stress that weighs on you by up to 1 hour a day. This can consist of using technology to appear more organized, categorizing e-mails and voicemails, avoiding delays and getting in the habit of saying "no".
Leave your work at the office
Develop an on-off switch between the office and home. This helps you manage the practice of transitioning between the two realms. This might include exercising at the health center, jogging for errands, or keeping personal appointments.
Scheduling such things to do without delay adhering to your daily working hours also prevents you from spending more than 20 minutes at work, which then turn into hours.
Take some time for yourself
Setting aside a few minutes to do the things you love is the key to maintaining the best work-life balance.
In some cases, it's okay to self-reflect, have some down time, and indulge yourself. Go to the spa, get a massage, watch reruns of your favorite TV show, read a book, go for a walk, or do nothing at all.
Summary
Work-life balance is something that workers all over the world desire. Recent surveys reveal that many moms and dads want to make modifications, so they can work more flexibly, even if it affects their salary, because they realize it is necessary to spend time with their children.
Work-life balance will recommend unique things to different people, as all of you have different commitments to existence.
In your always-on world, stability is a deeply personal thing, and only you can find a way of life that fits and is most comfortable for you.
So you can get work-life balance benefits for you and your loved ones.
