Top 3 Ways to Bring More Balance into Your Busy Life

balancing scaleMaintaining work-life balance isn’t easy. And with new technology and work expectations—well, it’s even more of a challenge.

In the world of being plugged-in 24/7, it is easy to forget the importance of separating our work life and our personal life—let alone know how to juggle the two worlds.

Sound familiar? Not to worry—we’ve got your back. We’ve compiled a list of ways to help you bring more balance into your busy life (and some inspirational quotes to get you through the toughest days):

 

“Do less. Be more.”—Elizabeth Grace Saunders 

If you’re like us, you often make more work for yourself than you have to. You know how it goes: mindlessly wasting time browsing social media, chatting away on personal phone calls, and surfing the web in search of the next handbag (or cute cat video—come on, you know you do it!).

If you pay more attention to where you are spending your time, you might be able to spend more of it doing the things you enjoy.

Our tip: For one day, write down everything you do. See where you are wasting time.

“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management.”—Betsy Jacobson

Work isn’t going to set boundaries for you. You have to set them for yourself.

Scheduling your own downtime in your calendar will help keep the two worlds of work and life separate. Spending time with your friends, family, or significant other is imperative to your overall happiness. Even so, it’s hard to keep in mind when the workload gets heavy.

Our tip: Create a calendar with both your work and fun commitments. This way, you are able to see how to balance both more carefully, and it will keep you mindful of the importance of downtime.

“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.”—Jim Rohn

Keep in mind that, at the end of the day, you are in charge of your own life. You make your own priorities. Sometimes, even when you’re “off the clock,” you still have a million things to do at home.

A great way to balance your week is to make a list of priorities, especially at home. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with an endless amount of chores, make a list at the beginning of the week of what needs to get done and when. Stick to the list, and enjoy taking some time to relax. Remember, without downtime, it’s easy to burn out. High stress, both at work and home, can negatively affect your health.

Our tip: On Sundays, make a list of priorities for the week of what you’d like to accomplish, and decide on the days you plan to complete each task. This way, you spread out the tasks and leave some time each day for doing something you enjoy.

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Striking the Work-Life Balance

Have you found yourself working late and spending your off-the-clock time doing work-related activities (like replying to work emails or prepping work for the next day)? If so, it may be time to reconsider where to draw the boundary between your work life and your personal life.

It can be tempting to rack up hours at work, especially if you’re vying for a promotion, trying to earn a raise, or managing an ever-increasing workload. But when you spend most of your time working, your home life will take a hit—resulting in added stress, fatigue, and lost time with your family and friends.

Try these tips to take control of your work-life and regain the you-time needed to feel your best, both on and off the job:

• Track where your time goes.Work is an endless well. There will always be more for you to do if you’re looking for it. Start taking note of your daily tasks, including work-related and personal activities. Where is most of your time spent? Can you delegate the extra work you’re taking on? If so, take that option.

• Practice saying no.This simple word is the key to your sanity. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to spearhead an extra project, or your boss asking for you to do “just one quick favor” when you’ve already worked overtime the past four days, remember that it’s OK to respectfully say no. You’ll have more time for the activities that are meaningful to you when you learn to stop feeling guilty over not taking on more responsibilities.

• Take advantage of your options. Ask your employer about flex hours, a compressed workweek, job sharing, telecommuting, or other scheduling flexibility. The more control you have over your hours, the less stress you’ll feel.

• Leave work at work.Reinforce the boundary between work and home by refusing to check your work email or opening your laptop after you leave the office. Instead, fully invest yourself in the time you spend with your loved ones and unwinding from the long day.

• Manage your time.Don’t save household chores and errands solely for your day off. Instead, organize them in batches throughout the week so you don’t feel as though you trade one kind of workday for another. Simply do what needs to be done and let the rest go.

• Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, get a little physical activity in your day, and catch your beauty sleep. And be sure each day you do something you love, such as curl up with a great book or practice yoga. Remember your well-being is just as important as your work demands and deadlines. Treat it accordingly.

What are some ways you maintain the work-life balance?