These days, work-life balance can seem like an impossible accomplishment. Technology makes workers accessible around the clock, and the fear of job loss leads to a longer working hours. In fact, the compounding stress from the never-ending workday is damaging. It can hurt relationships, health, and overall happiness. Work-life balance can differ from one individual to another, but there are some basic tips that can be applied for everyone.
1. Let Go of Perfectionism.
As you grow up, life gets more complicated. As you climb the ladder at work and as your family grows, your responsibilities expand. Perfectionism becomes out of reach, and if that concept is left unchecked, it can become destructive, The key to avoid burning out is to let go of perfectionism. As life gets more expanded it’s very hard, both neurologically and psychologically, to keep that practice of perfection going, 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. The work day never seems to end. There are times when you should just shut your phone off and enjoy the moment, The Power of Resilience is: Achieving Balance, Confidence and Personal Strength in Your Life. Phone notifications interrupt your off time and inject an undercurrent of stress in your system. So don’t text at your kid’s soccer game and don’t send work emails while you’re hanging out with family, make quality time an actually quality time. By not reacting to the updates of work, you will develop a stronger habit of resilience. Resilient people do have a greater sense of control over their lives, while reactive people have less control and are more prone to stress.
3. Exercise and meditate.
Even when we’re busy, we make time for the crucial things in life. We eat. We go to the bathroom. We sleep. And yet one of our most crucial needs is Exercise, and is often the first thing to go to when our calendars fill up. Exercise is an effective stress reducer. It 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, dedicating a few chunks of time each week to self-care, whether it’s exercise, yoga or meditation is good. And if you’re really pressed for time, start small with deep breathing exercises, a quick five minute meditation session morning and night. When we talk about balance, not everything has to be the completion and achievement of a task, it also has to include self-care so that your body, mind and soul are being refreshed.
4. Limit time-wasting activities and people.
First, identify what’s most important in your life. This list will differ for everyone, so make sure it truly reflects your priorities, not someone else’s. Next, draw firm boundaries so you can devote quality time to these high-priority people and activities. From there, it will be easier to determine what needs to be trimmed from the schedule. If email or internet surfing sends you into a time-wasting spiral, establish rules to keep you on task. That may mean turning off email notifications and replying in batches during limited times each day. And if you find your time being gobbled up by less constructive people, find ways to diplomatically limit these interactions. Focus on the people and activities that reward you the most, get a good night sleep. To some, this may seem selfish, but it is not, because, when it comes to being a good friend, spouse, parent, or worker, the better you are yourself, the better you are going to be in all those areas as well.
5. Change the structure of your life.
Sometimes we fall into a rut and assume our habits are set in stone. Take a bird-eye view of your life and ask yourself: What changes could make my life easier? focus on activities you specialize in and value most, and delegate or outsource everything else. Delegating can be a win-win situation. talking to the key stakeholders in different areas of your life, which could include employees or colleagues at work, a spouse or a partner in a community project. Find out what you can do to let go in ways that benefit other people by giving them opportunities to grow, this will give them a chance to learn something new and free you up so you may devote attention to your higher priorities.
6. Start small and Build from there!
We’ve all been there, crash diets that fizzle out, New Year’s resolutions we forget by February. It’s the same with work-life balance when we take on too much too quickly, Many of the workaholics commit to drastic changes, cutting their hours from 80 hours a week to 40, bumping up their daily run from zero miles to five miles a day. It’s a recipe for failure. If someone who was always absent from his family dinners, vowed to begin attending the meals nightly, it is better to start smaller, start with one evening a week. Eventually, you will work your way up to two to three dinners per week. If you’re trying to change a certain script in your life, start small and build from there, experience the success!
