Struggling to strike a balance between your personal and professional life? You are not alone. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is becoming harder than ever before. With excessive competition and fear of job loss, workers are putting in longer hours and consequently, struggling to juggle their responsibilities.
So, is there a way to achieve a satisfying work-life balance? You bet. Below are some simple tips that may help you to achieve this balance:
Plan your daily activities
First off, schedule activities. It’s important to plan your activities each day. Ideally, you should make a point to schedule your activities earlier in day (morning). This gives you the advantage of altering your schedule, in case of any change in events. Whether it is a business meeting or a family gathering, be proactive about scheduling.
Understand your needs
Identify what matters to you. Be honest with yourself and then communicate your needs to others. For example, do you need to leave work at 5pm for a family dinner? If so, inform your boss beforehand. Open communication is the first step towards achieving a healthy work-life balance. Adopt it; don’t hide it. You can’t expect others to guess your needs.
Let go of perfectionism
According to recent research published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, concerns about perfectionism can sabotage success at work, school or on the playing field. Ultimately, it leads to a host of mental problems, such as stress and burnout.
In most cases, people develop perfectionist tendencies at a young age, especially in school. However, as you grow up, your responsibilities also grow with you. Life becomes harder, which makes it nearly impossible to sustain the habit of perfection.
Exercise regularly
Take the time out to exercise and meditate. Even if it is only for 15 to 20 minutes, regular exercise and meditation enhances energy levels. In addition, it improves your ability to think and concentrate and makes you feel more alert in general. More importantly, everyone deserves their alone time to seek clarity, reflect, and recharge themselves. Working out is a fabulous way to do that.
Unplug
Although we live in a hi-tech world, constant access to technology can be mind numbing. Replying to work emails or perpetual text massaging can drain anyone. Therefore, shut your phone off for an hour every day. Unplug technology to spend quality time with your family and friends.
These strategies are easy to understand and incorporate into your life. If you are still unable to achieve the desired results, schedule an appointment at Instrumental Change LLC. Colleen Brigid Fitzpatrick would love to help and is a certified professional offering counseling to adults for achieving a healthy work-life balance.
