What is Work-Life Balance and How Can You Achieve It?
Everyday life feels like a balancing act at times. Walk the tightrope like a pro.
Life demands certain flexibility in both work and personal activities, and trying to schedule equal time for each can be frustrating and seemingly impossible. Some jobs have set schedules such as, when you leave for the day, the work stays behind until the next day. However, as technology evolves and there are more opportunities to telecommute, the line between work and life blurs. Is it OK to throw a load of laundry in the wash between conference calls? What about taking 20 minutes to mow the lawn between meetings?
What Is Work-Life Balance?
Defining work-life balance involves looking at how working people manage time spent at and outside of work. Time outside of work may include managing relationships, family responsibilities, and other outside interests and hobbies.
Work-life balance is less about dividing the hours in your day evenly between work and personal life and, instead, is more about having the flexibility to get things done in your professional life while still having time and energy to enjoy your personal life. Technology means as a worker, you can be accessible around the clock or be made to work long hours if you don't set boundaries. Experts agree: the compounding stress from the never-ending workday is damaging. It can hurt relationships, health and overall happiness.
As more and more employees work from home full-time and everyone has 24/7 access to email, achieving a better work-life balance may not seem like an easily attainable goal. However, both workers and businesses benefit when you are able to find that balance. So, how can you juggle the pressure of both worlds without causing yourself additional stress? Below are some tips to help you get started.
1. Say No To Activities That Drain Your Time Or Energy
It's easy to get sucked into habits that make us less efficient without us realizing it, like keeping your Facebook tab open at work so you don't miss something “important.” Do an inventory of activities that don't enhance your life or career — and minimize the amount of time you spend on them.
It's hard to say “no,” especially when it's to a supervisor, co-workers, or a loved one, but sometimes that powerful little word is the key to achieving work-life balance. Will the office really collapse in on itself if you don't organize another get-together? Do you have to attend all the dinners and parties you’re invited to? Learn to use “no” more often and it will become a powerful tool in balancing work and your personal life.
2. Change How You Complete Errands and Household Chores
A friend of mine was quite good at achieving work-life balance, managing to make great career strides while also juggling a home-based business. Her advice? Life's too short to stress over dust bunnies. For example, she decided that the last thing she wanted to do in her free time was clean, so she hired a cleaning service that cleans her house twice a month. Are there errands you could outsource to someone else? What about ordering a meal online with a service like Skip The Dishes, shop online for groceries at Save On Foods or try a meal delivery service like Chefs Plate. Try and find ways to minimize the "to-do list" if possible by outsourcing or creating a new routine.
If you're self-employed or a business owner, are there certain tasks that you can outsource to a local business?
3. Get Moving And Exercise Your Body
Exercise is not just good for your body, it's also good for your mind. Finding time to hit the gym may be hard during the workday when you have a jam-packed schedule, but it will ultimately help you get more things done. Studies have found that exercise releases endorphins, boosts energy, and increases your ability to concentrate. Try and go either before work, midday during a lunch break or afterwards. Having your gym bag packed and ready to go saves time.
If the gym's not an option, are there people in your neighbourhood you could meet several mornings a week before work to go for a brisk 20-minute walk with? If mornings are a no-go, how about stepping away from your desk at lunchtime for a stroll? Remember: It's all about work-life balance. Find whatever works for you. Anything is better than doing nothing at all.
4. Unplug And Enjoy Some Quiet Time
There will always be another project, another email, or another client that needs tending to, but it's important to know when to say “enough” and step away. Trust that someone else can work the problem or that the problem isn't so dire that you can't deal with it during the next business day.
Studies show that people need more sleep and that sleep deprivation affects their health and well-being. Exposure to electronics right before bed can negatively impact the quality of your sleep as well, so try to unplug an hour before bedtime. It's important to remember: the last thoughts you have as you drift off to sleep won't be fixating on an upcoming meeting. Maybe instead, they will be about a recipe you want to try for dinner next week or a long-awaited night out. That sounds much better.
5. Find Time For Yourself
What would you do if you had a whole day to yourself with no demands or pressure? Would you binge-watch every episode of your favourite show? Curl up with a novel? While most people don't have the luxury of a whole day dedicated to relaxation, constantly putting off that downtime and putting everyone's needs before your own will wear you down and make it even more difficult to meet all those other demands.
Whether it's 30 minutes to curl up with your favourite book or magazine after dinner or an hour-long run before work, pick a time to do something just for you. Even just a few minutes of "me time" a day will help to recharge your batteries and be better for your mental health.
6. Communicate Your Needs
Don't assume your family and manager are aware of your concerns. If you need to adjust your schedule to find a better work-life balance, then voice those needs. If that means asking your boss for permission to leave a few minutes early once a week so you can join a class on the way home, do it.
7. Give Yourself Time To Adjust To The New Changes You're Making
All new habits require time to build, so if you find yourself sneaking your iPhone into bed and, three hours later, you're finally escaping the clutches of Instagram, that's OK. Leave your phone downstairs tomorrow night. Little steps are the key to finding that work-life balance, so start small and go from there. Most of all, know your boundaries and what works best for you. Then you can decide what really matters and prioritize the actions you take.
