The line between work and personal life can often become blurry. In some cases work can and does encroach, becomes an all encompassing thing. Entrepreneurs spend weeks, sometimes months on end attempting to reach the break-even point of their new business. In other cases, bosses may be breathing down your neck, expecting you to be reachable at all hours of the day or night.
You need to strike a balance in this delicate ecosystem between work and work related matters and your life outside of it. Being “all work and no play” is not only hazardous to your mental and physical health, but can negatively impact relationships. Though work can get demanding, and time consuming, it should never be prioritized over your well-being.
If by now, you haven’t made an effort to cultivate a respectable work-life balance, you should start entertaining the idea of it. Keep your spirits high and avoid burnouts by keeping these two essentials in an equilibrium. Here are some tips to help you do just that.
Focus on What You Do Well
If you’re able to, focus on your strengths and learn to apply them in the work that you do. It can often be frustrating and disheartening doing the things you loathe or just aren’t good at. Now I am not saying you shouldn’t try to do new things or learn new skills. What I do want you to do is apply yourself to the tasks that play to your strengths.
When you do things well, and have fun doing it, the process becomes a source of internal motivation. Not only will you be more efficient but will also look forward to doing them the very next day. Instead of contemplating your life’s choices when you wake up in the morning, you’re embracing the new day with a smile on your face.
Allocate Time Efficiently
Time management is one of the most essential skills an individual can have. We all have 24 hours to work with in any given day, but we all allocate the time differently. Learn to effectively divulge the time between work and personal matters.
Get in the habit of creating schedules. It will give you a better visual representation of where your times goes, and if there is room for any adjustments to be made. Not to mention if anything important comes up in the future, you’ll be more prepared.
Important thing is, is to stick with the created schedule. You’ve spent all this time planning out your week or month ahead, one misstep can throw it all off balance. Veering off course means you have to alter everything again to make up for the lost time.
Set Boundaries For Yourself
Getting calls at odd hours of the night about work related matters is not something many of us would appreciate. You need to draw a line somewhere. Having boundaries is ok, and the people you work with should respect that. Don’t hesitate to bring them up to your colleagues at work. If you’re an entrepreneur, be clear with your vendors or clients as to what your job entails and the parameters within which you work.
Setting up these boundaries doesn’t make you a bad worker. Most individuals do realize that there are things outside of work that require just as much attention. If you’re not at work, your peace should be respected.
Exercise Part of Your Daily Routine
This is a good one. Include exercise in your daily routine. It offers a variety of benefits such as improved cognitive function, enhances memory and increases confidence. Staying active will not only make you feel better, but make you more efficient at the work you’re doing.
Make Use of Technology
When I say make use of available technology, I don’t mean to play with your phone all day or post memes on social media. Technology comes with both positives and negatives. If you abuse technology, it will eat into your productivity and sap away all the available time.
Incorporate technology in a smart manner. You have tools that can automate tasks. Software such as Zapier can replicate the same actions across multiple platforms, saving you precious time. Make technology be an extension of yourself and have it work in tandem.
Third-party Accountability
There are people out there who may need strict supervision to get moving. Someone needs to light a fire at their heels that would get them shuffling along. Motivation and the desire to get things done comes in all shapes and sizes and that’s ok.
Having a third-party involved in your daily routine can invoke a spark within that may enhance your work efficiency. That third-party would be holding you accountable for the work you say you have to do during the day, week, month, whatever.
This could be a temporary solution for you until you assemble an efficient routine. Third-party accountability may be more suitable for freelancers or those individuals working on their own. It’s worth giving it a shot.
