Tips for a Better Work/Life Balance

If you’re finding it more challenging than ever to juggle the demands of your job and the rest of your life, you’re not alone. Communications technology and programs that make work easier have helped our lives in many ways, but it has also created expectations of constant accessibility.

Sometimes you don’t have much control over the hours you have to work, but you can still search for ways to bring more enjoyment into your life.

Focus Your Time And Attention on Things You Can Control

When you plan your week, make it a point to allow time with your family or friends, so you’ll have something to look forward to, and an extra incentive to manage your time well so you don’t have to cancel.

You can’t control everything that happens in your life, so try and create processes, scheduling and timekeeping for those aspects you can control. Then kick all the other stuff into touch. Don’t waste time on functions or people that contribute no perceived value, such as spending too much time with a colleague who is constantly gossiping.

Make a conscious effort to limit the time you spend on the web and social media sites.

Step away from the email more often.

Get Moving

It’s hard to make time for exercise when you have a jam-packed schedule, but this may ultimately help you get more done by boosting your energy level and ability to concentrate. Even during a hectic day, try to take 10 or 15 minutes to do something that will recharge your batteries, going for a quick walk will help.

Just Say No

Say no, say no, and keep saying it. Don’t justify your actions or give excuses. You don’t have to be nasty or rude though.

Work smarter, not harder

This involves tight prioritisation – allow yourself a certain amount of time per task, try not to get caught up in less productive activities, such as unstructured meetings that tend to take up lots of time.

Leave work at work

Before you pop off for an after work livener (OK, we know it’s only Wednesday) shut everything down, and write a note listing tasks and ideas for tomorrow, then put it in the desk drawer. Take a deep, slow breath and acknowledge that’s the end of your working day.

Shutting off is a big theme among those offering tips to a healthy work-life balance, so if you do happen to take work home with you, try to confine it to a certain area and be able to close the door on it.

Ease off the adrenaline

Do you need the rush of adrenaline all the time, take a step back and ask yourself how well your life is really going? It won’t be much fun for your family and friends if you crash – which is a distinct possibility if you don’t pull back?

Make ’em wait

One way to avoid being continually available is to make it clear to your colleagues that you will reply to emails within 24 or 48 hours, as long as you’re reliable about replying, it’s surprising how little this bothers people

Let go of perfectionism

Perfectionist tendencies develop at a young age when there are few demands on time. When you start a successful career your responsibilities mushroom, perfection becomes harder to reach, and if left unchecked can become destructive. The healthier option is to strive not for perfection, just for excellence.

Outsource wherever you can

Don’t be afraid to relinquish control of tasks that you find time consuming, or tedious, this will pay dividends in preserving your sanity.

You must learn to switch off

Short, meditative exercises like deep breathing or grounding your senses in your present surroundings, are great places to start, and a 20 minute power nap in the afternoon is more beneficial than an extra 20 minute morning lay in.

Don’t forget to leave your smartphone the other side of the bedroom door.

Always make time for a holiday

If you really don’t have time for long holidays, take regular long weekends instead. Sacrifice the odd Friday or Monday for a mini-break, even if you just spend the days munching, or just knocking about with the kids, as long as it gets you away from the sharp end.