Blog

November 25, 2020

We all have definitely heard the proverb ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. A person who does not sustain any work life balance ends up just like that. Work-life balance is about holding an equilibrium between work and personal life. It is important to prioritize and spend time nurturing both equally. Doing so not only keeps you happier but also makes you more focused and greatly increases your productivity. Here are 7 ways to help you achieve your balance.

Set your boundaries: Always set employer-employee boundaries at work. In the new mobile phone era, people can reach you whenever they want to. It means that your employer can reach you even on holidays, sick days or vacation days. Ensure that you have clearly set your boundaries about when your work folks are allowed to contact you (Unless absolutely necessary) and how many hours a day you should be working .

Determine your priorities: Make a list of all the things you want to prioritize and manage your time with accordance to that. It could be your family, your hobbies, your side hustle or your day job. To maximize your productivity and get all your work done, you would need to determine your priorities and set goals and deadlines and follow them religiously.

Manage your time: Set a limited number of hours for work and the rest of the time to pursue your interests or spend time with your family. Use a book or a spreadsheet to list down all the things you need to do and allot time to each one of them. Make sure you involve your family commitments, exercise and work tasks equally.

Take breaks: Do not forget to take a break. Nothing is more important than your well-being. Getup from your desk every 15-30 minutes to stretch and drink water frequently. Make sure you step out for a short walk or hit the gym for a while every day. It may be the easiest thing to skip when your client calls about something important. However, despite your busy work schedules, find time to engage in physical activity.

Do not bring your work home: Adopt a strict ‘No work at home’ policy. We often chase deadlines at work and while doing so, we bring our remaining work home to complete it in time. Refrain from doing that. Your home is where you spend time with your family or do what you love. Do not take away your precious me-time and use it for work. This will not only get you annoyed or irritated but also cause you to develop negative feelings or frustration towards your work.

Unplug: Some device-free time can go a long way. After work, unplug. Switch off your mobile phone or mute work calls and enjoy your evening with your family, sip on a refreshing drink or play a sport. It minimizes your screen time which is unbelievably great for your hands, eyes, neck, and body. Experience what’s around you. Meditate, listen to the sounds of nature and experience a device free world peacefully.

Get a job you love: Find a job around a fond interest and watch how work becomes a delight rather than an obligation. Make a list of all the things you love doing and figure out if there is a hobby among them that you could monetize. If you love what you do, it’ll feel less like a job and more like fun.

Life is all about the choices we make and work-life balance is one such choice. It may feel uncomfortable at first to stop emphasizing more on work and less on your personal goals, but once you find an equilibrium, it will be worth it. We have so much more to life than simply staring at a screen, contemplating our decisions and wondering why we are not satisfied with our lives.
Take it one step at a time, find your balance and make life happen.