Tips for Better Work-Life Balance
Figure Out What Really Matters to You in Life
Gyour priorities clear is the first and most essential step toward achieving a well-balanced life. The important point here is to figure out what you want your priorities to be, not what you think they should be.
Ask yourself the following series of questions:
1. If my life could focus on one thing and one thing only, what would that be?
2. If I could add a second thing, what would that be?
3. A third?
4. A fourth?
5. A fifth?
If you answer thoughtfully and honestly, the result will be a list of your top five priorities. A typical top-five list might include some of the following:
- Children
- Spouse
- Satisfying career
- Community service
- Religion/spirituality
- Health
- Sports
- Art
- Hobbies, such as gardening
- Adventure/travel
Drop Unnecessary Activities
By making a concrete list of what really matters to you, you may discover you're devoting too much time to activities that aren't a priority, and you can adjust your schedule accordingly.
If at all possible, consider dropping any commitments and pursuits that don't make your top-five list, because unnecessary activities keep you away from the things that matter to you.
Protect Your Private Time
You would probably think twice before missing out on work, a parent-teacher meeting, or a doctor's appointment. Your private time deserves the same respect. Carve out hours that contribute to yourself and your relationship. Guard this personal time and don't let work or other distractions intrude. Stop checking your email, texts or mobile phone so often.
If work consistently interferes with your personal time, it may be discussing some adjustments with your boss. There's a mythology in the workplace that more hours means more. Demonstrate that you can deliver the same or better results in fewer hours if you're working too many hours. Your job performance should never be judged in terms of hours of input. Protecting your private time often leads to greater satisfaction in both work life and personal life, greater productivity, and more creativity.