Today, it is harder today than ever to pull yourself away from work—thanks, in large part, to mobile technology. So, how do we manage to balance work and life today?
Even when work was strictly considered a 9-5 commitment, trying to maintain a work-life balance has always been major stress on the workforce. Today, this balance is nearly impossible. Skim the 13 tips below to learn how to better balance your work and life so you can be a better person both in the office and at home.
1. Time Management
Whether you are at home or at the office, it is critical to make use of your time efficiently. Don’t let personal issues spill over to the workplace, and equally, if not more important, keep your work issues at the office. Remote workers or individuals who work from home may have a more difficult time drawing a line in the sand between work and life. Time is the most valuable commodity in life: it is the one thing you cannot buy more of.
2. Set Career Goals
In order to stay satisfied at your place of work, you must be forward-thinking and equipped with goals and a vision for yourself at your company. It is nearly impossible to stay positive and motivated without looking at what the future holds. You spend at least 40 hours a week committed to your career, take a few minutes each week to set both short and long term goals for yourself and watch your motivation levels dramatically increase. Be realistic, but make sure your goals challenge you. Are you satisfied with your compensation? If not, consider bringing this up to your boss. Compensation is a major cause of employee dissatisfaction and turnover.
Part of maintaining a healthy work-life balance is establishing priorities both at home and at the office. There are only so many hours in the day and it is up to you what will get the most of your time, attention, and energy. The first thing people need to do is identify what truly matters to them and communicate it. It is no one else’s job but your own to put yourself first. Work will suffer if you do not have time for yourself outside of it.
4. Get Better at Email
Emails can really put a strain on your productivity levels if you are not reviewing them in an efficient manner. Set aside time to review emails when you first get in, consider checking in intervals, or at a certain time each day. Don’t get overwhelmed when you see things streaming into your inbox. Respond in a timely manner, but don’t let a new email send you off task with what you’re currently focused on. Also, leave your emails at the office. Unless you have to be “on-call” after 5 o’clock, you shouldn’t be turning to your mobile phone or tablet for email after-hours.
5. Set Personal Goals
It’s imperative to remain happy at home regardless of how your work life is going. Most humans rely on the future as a natural motivator, and by setting goals for your future at home (this does not include career goals) you are automatically making your personal happiness a priority. This is the key! Think exercise, travel, new hobbies, reserving time for friends and family, the list goes on.
6. Take Care of Yourself
People fail to recognize the importance of “me” time. It’s inevitable, sometimes you have to finish up work late at night, or early in the morning. If that is the case, make sure you take at least a few hours off when you get home. Relax, make some dinner, get some exercise and then get back to it. You will be more focused and driven if you give yourself a bit of time to unwind in between sessions.
Read part 2 here
