7 Tips for achieving Work-life Balance

Today’s world may make work-life balance appear to be an impossible accomplishment but it doesn’t have to seem so. Technology to a certain extent hasn’t helped matters but it is important that we balance work with our life activities for health, mental and general benefits.

I took the time to relax this weekend and that to an extent inspired today’s post. I understand that work-life balance means different things to each one of us, but there are similar things that we could add up into our lives to strike that balance needed. I will also share some pictures and maybe it will inspire you to take some time off too if that will be good for your situation.

Here are some helpful tips.

Avoid being a perfectionist

One way to avoid burning out is to avoid being a perfectionist. I understand that it can be hard to have your work not turn out as planned. The better thing is to do your very best and let things flow naturally. It is good that you understand that nothing should be done in the extreme. Some people may say that being perfect is great! Oh yeah, as good as that may sound, just don’t become an extremist- that’s where the problem lies!

Rather, what you should be concerned about is to be motivated by high standards and then use it as a guide not an absolute. Try to leave work early when you can. I am sure you can work things out better. I believe you can always refresh your mind and work out a better strategy for resolving business needs.  

Change your pattern

To successfully balance work with life, you need to understand the structure of your life and change it if possible. It is your duty to work things out and assume a balance in your life structure. You need to evaluate your habits, your job, your daily routine, your finance and so on and then ask some simple questions.

• What changes will make my life better?
• What can I do to feel less overwhelmed?
• What changes can I make to have an easier life?

The truth remains that you are the only one that understands your life pattern and job and so you are the only one that can take steps to correct any challenges you may be undergoing. If you notice that there are some activities that you can delegate to make things easier, then try to do that. Try to schedule tasks ahead of time, so that you have an idea of how your day or week will look like.

Focus on things you can control

If you have a job where you have little or no control over your hours depending on your industry, then what may be important is to focus on things you have control over. Maybe consider the hours you have to yourself, your free days and work towards spending time nurturing yourself and handling your personal matters.

Try to spend those hours you have positively. Maybe take time out to hang out with friends that motivate you, give that important person a call, reorganize yourself and just be human. You want to ensure that you don’t spend this time on things that take out your energy. If you realize that there are some chores you cannot handle alone for any reason, maybe it is time to find someone who can help ease the burden. Delegate duties where you can, try other options. For instance, if you need to shop for groceries, maybe try to do so online if it will help reduce your worry.

Technology use

It’s unfortunate that technology may also be a reason for failing to balance work and life. You may have to do some work from home or reply to emails during nonworking hours. It all depends on your industry and also where you work. What is important is for you to know where to draw the line if necessary. You need to understand what your body/ health can take. You need to know when to put down your device(s). You need to know when it’s time to just keep your phone, laptop, and other gadgets aside. You should try to be cautious of yourself. It’s all about setting your priorities right!

Take a trip/ hang out

Sometimes you just need to do something relaxing to bring more balance to your life. So maybe take a break and go on a trip or hang out with friends. The trip doesn’t have to be a long one. You can go on a short trip from Friday after work and have fun until Sunday.

Like I said earlier, I took a short trip this weekend and it was very relaxing. It doesn’t have to be anything classy, what matters is that you do something. Just start from somewhere and stop procrastinating. It could be as little as you taking a walk and just declutter. Again, you want to take advantage of your leave at work. Use it to spend some quality time on yourself. 

Take a look at some pictures from this weekend. I always say that you should be human and just be you, so I decided to share some pictures here on the blog, I don’t think I have shared a personal picture here, but let’s be free and relaxed today!

Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario

The view was lovely.

We couldn’t take our eyes away from the beautiful rainbow.

We also went into the scary Dracula’s Haunted Castle and screamed our hearts out! What a risk.

Lots of games and fun!

Sleep/ exercise

According to The National Sleep Foundation,

“Exercising regularly makes it easier to fall asleep and contributes to sounder sleep. However, exercising sporadically or right before going to bed will make falling asleep more difficult. Healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night and sleep is just as important as diet and exercise.”

Try to put your laptop and phone aside and just try to sleep and relax. Also, try to exercise regularly as it is important for your health.

Make it a gradual process

Eventually, you need to realize that you can’t do it all in a day. You need to take a step at a time. Don’t rush things up, take a gradual process towards reconstructing your schedule and lifestyle and everything will gradually fall in place. Just keep in mind that your plan/ goal should be realistic. It should be something you can achieve over time.

Maintaining work-life balance will help you reduce health challenges and gain control of your personal life and time. It is important that you try to use these tips to maintain a happy life. I would love to hear back from you on how you try to maintain work-life balance. Do you have more suggestions? Please feel free to ask questions and make comments.

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Photo Credit: Allen Obayagbona: @Obaallen