In a society dedicated to career development, finding enjoyment both in and outside the office can be tricky.
The “balance” in the commonly used phrase “work-life balance” is the key to enjoying work and life. When work overwhelms us, our personal lives struggle, and vice versa.
Taking care of yourself builds a fully rounded lifestyle while adding to the energy and passion necessary for loving the work you do each day.
Finding a work-life balance is not a sign of weakness or a lack of career passion—quite the opposite. Work-life balance is a way to respect the equilibrium necessary for maintaining health and enthusiasm on both sides of your world.
What is work-life balance?
Work-life balance, in my view, is an embodiment of our ability to manage and negotiate our many (often conflicting) desires, wants, and responsibilities in a way that enlivens us rather than depletes and drains us.
It requires strong boundaries, and a strong sense of self-love and self-acceptance, as well as the ability to say “no” to what we don’t want, without drowning in guilt and fear.
It is the ability to find an acceptable and happy equilibrium between time and energy spent on ‘work’-related activities versus how we spend our time and energy outside of ‘work’ (and this ‘work’ may be paid or unpaid). The ability to create a life or lifestyle that is optimal for you.
Why is work-life balance important?
Without the ability to balance how you work and how you manage your life outside of work, your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health suffers. One of the most damaging regrets is “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard and missed out on so much”.
So many men and women in middle age share that they regret what they’ve missed out on in life, by working so hard. They missed so much and sacrificed so much to pursue work goals that now feel meaningless and empty.
As individuals, without our health, life can be a struggle and can feel hard and be debilitating. A healthy work-life balance can mean reducing or avoiding some of the consequences for the individual for example:
- Fatigue, stress, burnout or other mental health issues
- Ineffective use of time and lower productivity
- Lack of confidence and lower self-esteem, self-belief in one’s own abilities (feeling like you can’t cope)
- Difficulty managing personal relationships or family relationships
- Having a healthy work-life balance can also contribute to us feeling more valued both inside and outside of the workplace. If your employer values that you need time to care for a sick relative (or even care for yourself) and gives you the time and support to do what you need to, you will inevitably feel better about who you work for and even be willing to go the extra mile for them. The same can be said for our partners, friends and families.
Here are 10 tips for work-life balance:
1. Build hard deadlines for the start and end of your day
Whether you freelance or work with strict punch-in/punch-out hours, the brain can remain at work unintentionally. Setting guidelines, both for yourself and your management whenever possible, allows these two worlds to impede on one another.
In the morning, after your commute or personal prep time, choose a ritual to mark the start of the day. Make a new cup of coffee or write yourself a positive affirmation for your desk.
At the end of the day, do the same. Clean up your desk area or write a things-to-do list for the next morning.
Whatever it is, keep it consistent. This will signal the brain to switch gears from work to home.
2. Communicate honestly with your boss
Each person and position requires a unique work-life balance. During the interview process, be honest with yourself and your boss. In some positions, this work-life separation is more common than in others.
Be clear from the get-go what type of balance is right for you, and keep communication open throughout your time working together. Fewer surprises create less anxiety.
3. Take time for yourself to find quiet
Even in the busiest of jobs such as teaching or food service, it’s crucial to find some quiet. Even several minutes of space can clear the mind and re-settle the breath.
Finding satisfaction both within and outside the job can be difficult in a society that values professional advancement.
The key to enjoying work and life is the “balancing” in the often-used phrase “work-life balance.” When work becomes too much for us, it affects our personal lives and vice versa.
4. Choose a non-paying hobby
It’s in our instinct to try to make money with our abilities. Finding passions that do not have a monetary value is equally useful to the mind.
For a tiny section of the day, this unlinks money-making and creative fun, utilizing a different area of the brain. As time passes, creative or physical pursuits will automatically feed the work-related brain.
5. Seek financial stability
Finding satisfaction both within and outside the job can be difficult in a society that values professional advancement.
Financial security is clearly a goal for many, if not all, people. Finding this balance, however, needs more than a steady paycheck. Seek services that will help you budget, spend intelligently, and save for your future goals in a constructive way.
This gives each day afresh meaning and helps you focus on the long term. Consider financial education as a habit that will last a lifetime.
6. Create honest connections with those at work
Though we may naturally connect more profoundly with folks outside of work, engaging with compassion and caring benefits you and those around you. Everyone at your business is attempting to strike a work-life balance, and you can help.
Always convey work demands with kindness and patience while staying professional. These small gestures help to establish a new culture around you that is noticed.
7. Nurture relationships outside of work
On the other hand, achieving a work-life balance also entails spending quality time with our loved ones at home and in our social circles.
We are more open to both our own and our loved ones’ personal needs when we turn off the workday and find separation. Allowing work to wait till the next day allows us to be more present at the moment.
If this isn’t possible on some days, be honest about how much time you need to spend working at home. Set boundaries and talk about them with your family. Everyone moves between the two realms as a team in this manner.
8. Create a balanced workspace
The sights and words we consume at different times of the day have a significant impact on our overall well-being. As a reminder of individual passions and aspirations, place tiny trinkets or photographs that bring you delight throughout your office.
Keep in mind that lighting and layout can alter the mood of a room, especially during the winter. Overall, be aware of how your surroundings affect your body and mood.
9. Build a long-term plan
In all professions, the ability to advance higher is critical. Make a fantasy plan for the next many decades without judgment or reservations, and be open to modify and remain flexible as life ebbs and flows. Not achieving a goal does not entail failure; it was merely a way of putting yourself on the best road possible.
10. Continue to grow and change—both inside and out
Even if we’ve mastered our professional abilities and are happy with our current level of performance, lifelong learning piques our interest and allows us to progress.
The more we learn, the more doors and ideas open up in front of us. Education does not have to be connected to our occupations, however, they all influence how we approach work.
Finding a work-life balance is never simple, and it might feel out of our control at times. At the end of the day, we must complete the task. However, when we take a step back and consider the big picture, the modest everyday differences add up to significant change.
When moving between our work and home identities, open communication, setting limits, and developing our creative sides are just a few methods to be present. Most significantly, these adjustments allow us to become more in tune with ourselves and those we care about.
If you’re clear about your requirements and chances for personal growth, you’ll be able to make progress at work.