1. Understand that at its very core work-life balance is about self-respect. It is not your company or boss’s job to make sure you are happy & healthy. As a matter of fact it’s no one else’s job but yours!
2. Ask yourself what is your happiness worth? What is your health worth? What is your family worth? If you currently have an unhealthy work-life balance where you are regularly putting your job ahead of your health or family you are basically saying that your life is only worth whatever your current income.
3. You have to be prepared to leave your current job if there is no flexibility for you to maintain a healthy schedule. So long as leaving your current job is not a possibility you are essentially handing over your self-respect & empowerment to a company or industry.
4. You are more valuable than you realise! It costs companies a lot of time & money to retrain people when people leave. You have more leverage than you think when seeking more flexible working conditions. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.
5. Stop living for the future! Are you sacrificing your current happiness for some future goal? There’s nothing wrong the planning for the future, the mistake most people make is not setting a definite ‘out’ time when their happiness, health & family will become a priority.
6. Listen to your body. If you are getting a cold or flu more than twice a year (a healthy immune system) then your job is most likely ‘making you sick’. Ask yourself is it really worth it?
7. Start taking ‘well’ days instead of sick days. If you think that’s taking advantage of your company, one well day when you feel a bit run down will usually save you 3 sick days.
8. Book in downtime each week & make it non-negotiable. What relaxing relatively inexpensive ‘gift’ can you give yourself each week? For example getting a massage each week will not only help you relax, it’ll also boost your immune system.
9. Outsource! Is there one weekly or monthly task outside of work that you really don’t enjoy doing? If you don’t enjoy cleaning your house or apartment in your down time then look into getting a cleaner. This is one of the most affordable self-respecting gifts you can give to yourself.
10. Map out what your perfect work-life balance would look like: start with how many hours you feel comfortable working each month. This will differ for everyone and will also change as you age & have other commitments (such as children) in your life. It’s important that you are realistic here. For those of you who think you’d like to only work a handful of hours a month, several studies have shown that most people get bored & feel unfulfilled working less than 40 hours a month. Now look at your finances. If you simplified your life, removing everything extraneous but keeping the level of ‘comfortable’ (again this will be different for everyone) how much money do you really need to be making? Again be realistic. A USA economic study found that $75,000 per year is what most individuals need to make to feel comfortable. Now compare these results to what you are actually doing right now? What steps can you begin to make today to bring these into alignment?
Good Enough
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Work-Life Balance
“Balance is beautiful.” – Miyoko Ohno, Japanese bridge designer
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”. - Albert Einstein.
Some handy solutions
Solution 1 - Make a list
Organize yourself by making a list of things that you have to do for a week. Include work and non-work-related activities. Only pick out necessary tasks along with the activities that satisfy you the most and leave the rest.
Solution 2 - Flexible timings
The flexibility may alleviate some of your stress and free up some time. Pat at your back: At work, if nobody pats you on the back today, pat yourself on the back, and help others to do the same
Solution 3 - Learn to say no
Practice and learn to say no, e.g., when a colleague asks for your assistance in an extra project, remember that it is okay to respectfully excuse yourself by saying no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of false sense of obligation, you will experience a wider room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.
Solution 4 - Leave your work at office
When you walk out of your office door make yourself leave the work behind you. With today’s global business mentality and the technology to connect to anyone at any time from virtually anywhere, there’s no boundary between work and home.
Solution 5 - Manage your time
Organize your work by making a to-do list. A weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign up for it
Solution 6 - Clear communication
Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully at work as well as at home. Take notes if necessary.
Solution 7 - Pamper yourself
Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music. Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga or taking a bath or shower. Remember, having a family and a job is OK for both men and women.
Solution 8 - Set aside one night each week for recreation
Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, a picnic, watching a good movie etc. Managing time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate you and your lifestyle.
Solution 9 - Stop burdening your off day
Try to schedule some of your routine chores on workdays so that your days off are more relaxing. Take proper sleep, eat healthy food and give proper time to friends.