In the past, it
was easy to maintain a sense of balance between your professional life and your personal life. There
were definite working hours, and people did not spend their whole day and night
working – they would get back home in the evenings and spend time with their
families.
was easy to maintain a sense of balance between your professional life and your personal life. There
were definite working hours, and people did not spend their whole day and night
working – they would get back home in the evenings and spend time with their
families.
However, things
are different today. With the rising costs of living, life has indeed become
more challenging, and people are increasingly seeking out jobs that require
them to make some extra cash on the side. This has however led to an unforeseen
problem – there are increasing numbers of roles that can be thought of as
‘always on’, and you can never seem to catch a break – you are constantly
working 24/7.
are different today. With the rising costs of living, life has indeed become
more challenging, and people are increasingly seeking out jobs that require
them to make some extra cash on the side. This has however led to an unforeseen
problem – there are increasing numbers of roles that can be thought of as
‘always on’, and you can never seem to catch a break – you are constantly
working 24/7.
Now a new question
arises – how do you maintain a sense of work-life balance? Millions are
wrestling with these questions, but the answers vary all the time. Here are
some definite ways you can create some balance though, as it must be an
intentional effort on your part.
arises – how do you maintain a sense of work-life balance? Millions are
wrestling with these questions, but the answers vary all the time. Here are
some definite ways you can create some balance though, as it must be an
intentional effort on your part.
It is important to be honest
about your needs:-
The first thing a
person needs to do is knowing their needs and communicating it. You should not
hide it and assume that others will get the hint.
person needs to do is knowing their needs and communicating it. You should not
hide it and assume that others will get the hint.
Managers will
understand your personal needs, as long as you communicate it to them in a
clear manner. For instance, if you need to leave your workplace at noon to go
and attend a parent-teacher conference, or at 4 pm for an evening class, it is
important to know what your sweet spot is and talk about it.
understand your personal needs, as long as you communicate it to them in a
clear manner. For instance, if you need to leave your workplace at noon to go
and attend a parent-teacher conference, or at 4 pm for an evening class, it is
important to know what your sweet spot is and talk about it.
Of course, various
jobs will not all have the same approach, but it is good to have an honest
dialogue with your superiors about the meaning of balance and how you can
implement it.
jobs will not all have the same approach, but it is good to have an honest
dialogue with your superiors about the meaning of balance and how you can
implement it.
Know and set your priorities:-
It is difficult to
accomplish anything when you do not know what you are working towards, much
less when you are not aware of what your priorities are. So many people, even
in the workplace, unfortunately spend so much time working on tasks that they
should not be prioritizing in the first place.
accomplish anything when you do not know what you are working towards, much
less when you are not aware of what your priorities are. So many people, even
in the workplace, unfortunately spend so much time working on tasks that they
should not be prioritizing in the first place.
It is essential to
know what matters. For instance, what are the factors that can drive your
business up? Are your priorities going to improve the state of the organization
you work for, even in the long-term?
know what matters. For instance, what are the factors that can drive your
business up? Are your priorities going to improve the state of the organization
you work for, even in the long-term?
This process of setting
priorities requires a high degree of scrutiny. You need to examine your day,
and make sure you are eliminating the things that are leading to decreases in productivity, while focusing on
the tasks that promote the greatest outputs. For some people this may also
require much structure and planning, and that is okay.
priorities requires a high degree of scrutiny. You need to examine your day,
and make sure you are eliminating the things that are leading to decreases in productivity, while focusing on
the tasks that promote the greatest outputs. For some people this may also
require much structure and planning, and that is okay.
It is important to respect
the boundaries that are in place:-
When there is no
order, chaos is present. Likewise, you cannot expect to accomplish the balance
you are seeking for if you do not follow the boundaries that are already there.
order, chaos is present. Likewise, you cannot expect to accomplish the balance
you are seeking for if you do not follow the boundaries that are already there.
It might be
challenging to follow them at the start, but you will notice after some time
that you develop a routine, and this will form a lifestyle of predictability.
This will allow you to accomplish things outside of your working sphere as
well, but make sure you respect your boundaries first before expecting others
to respect them.
challenging to follow them at the start, but you will notice after some time
that you develop a routine, and this will form a lifestyle of predictability.
This will allow you to accomplish things outside of your working sphere as
well, but make sure you respect your boundaries first before expecting others
to respect them.
Use the off button often:-
Technology is
good, and it has allowed us to keep in touch with what is happening in the
world and with our friends. Technology also comes with an ‘off’ button, so make
sure you are using it as often as you can.
good, and it has allowed us to keep in touch with what is happening in the
world and with our friends. Technology also comes with an ‘off’ button, so make
sure you are using it as often as you can.
The pacing of life
today makes it difficult to switch off technology, because you always want to
see what is happening. However, you do not have to do it cold-turkey either;
you can approach this in phases.
today makes it difficult to switch off technology, because you always want to
see what is happening. However, you do not have to do it cold-turkey either;
you can approach this in phases.
For instance, the
first place to start is leaving your cellphone behind while you are eating your
dinner with your family, and concentrate on having wholesome conversations. When
you go on holiday, be on holiday mode – avoid going on social media every so
often to check what is happening, or checking your work emails – you do not
need them at that time, when you think about it. Once you do this a few times
and get used to it, you can slowly push the boundaries.
first place to start is leaving your cellphone behind while you are eating your
dinner with your family, and concentrate on having wholesome conversations. When
you go on holiday, be on holiday mode – avoid going on social media every so
often to check what is happening, or checking your work emails – you do not
need them at that time, when you think about it. Once you do this a few times
and get used to it, you can slowly push the boundaries.
When you unplug
from life, you start to gain new perspectives on life – ones that you never
would have gotten if you kept on logging in. You end up gaining a clear mind,
which allows you to face issues with greater strength and purpose. You can even
respond more clearly in the moment when you are not caught up in emotional
thinking, and your mind embraces logical views on issues.
from life, you start to gain new perspectives on life – ones that you never
would have gotten if you kept on logging in. You end up gaining a clear mind,
which allows you to face issues with greater strength and purpose. You can even
respond more clearly in the moment when you are not caught up in emotional
thinking, and your mind embraces logical views on issues.
Set personal goals and pace
yourself using them:-
Regardless of the
direction of your working life, it is important that you stay happy at home and with what you are doing. Many times, we will use the
future as a natural motivation, which is human.
direction of your working life, it is important that you stay happy at home and with what you are doing. Many times, we will use the
future as a natural motivation, which is human.
By taking the time
to define your goals that means you are making your happiness a personal
priority. The goals do not have to be major in scope – they can be things like
exercising every day, changing up your nutritional habits, spending more time
with your family and friends, exploring new hobbies, travelling to new places,
and so on.
to define your goals that means you are making your happiness a personal
priority. The goals do not have to be major in scope – they can be things like
exercising every day, changing up your nutritional habits, spending more time
with your family and friends, exploring new hobbies, travelling to new places,
and so on.
Make sure you take care of
yourself:-
It is very easy
for work to take the priority over your health or personal time, and many
people are failing to see the importance of spending time with yourself,
leading to drug abuse and admittance at NV rehabs, or other issues.
for work to take the priority over your health or personal time, and many
people are failing to see the importance of spending time with yourself,
leading to drug abuse and admittance at NV rehabs, or other issues.
The pressure of
work may lead you to finishing work during the wee hours of the morning or late
at night sometimes. When this happens, it is important to set some hours off
work when you get home, and use this time to relax before getting back to work.
When you ensure to take breaks, your body will be thankful for it, and you
become more productive in your work as well.
work may lead you to finishing work during the wee hours of the morning or late
at night sometimes. When this happens, it is important to set some hours off
work when you get home, and use this time to relax before getting back to work.
When you ensure to take breaks, your body will be thankful for it, and you
become more productive in your work as well.
Final thoughts:-
Work is good, but
your personal health is more important. Even though it may be challenging to
find a balance, it is important to ensure you get one for your sake. It is
particularly important to strive for balance in the current world, so that you
do not lose out on the things that matter most to you.
your personal health is more important. Even though it may be challenging to
find a balance, it is important to ensure you get one for your sake. It is
particularly important to strive for balance in the current world, so that you
do not lose out on the things that matter most to you.
