Balancing Work and Life


In a recent survey I did I asked people what aspect of life they had the most problems with. Although the answer was mostly finances , it was also not surprising that balancing work and life came in close second. This is one of the biggest reasons of stress related illnesses today.

So what is work / life balance ?

This is a term used for the idea that you need time for both work and other aspects of life , whether those are family related or personal interests.  

We live in chaotic times made up of deadlines and profit. Achieving that perfect balance between work and life almost seems unreachable. Work as we know it has changed over the years. Advancements in technology has created a whole different scenario when it comes to work. No longer is a job only during normal office hours. We use to go to work , leave at a normal time and then get home and spend time with our families. Now the scenario has changed. We can access our work via laptops , cellphones , etc , irrespective of where we are and what time it is. Because of how competitive market places have become , this is becoming normal procedure for a lot of people. Workers are now more engaged in their work than ever before.

There exists a misconception that to achieve this balance between work and life you need to spend an equal amount of time between work and play. It is about so much more. You need to ask yourself what at any given time needs to be your priority. 

Whatever you do at any given time , it needs to have your full attention. If you are bringing work home and doing it after hours , you will not be able to give your full attention to quality time with your family and loved ones. The opposite is also true. If you try and mix the two it will lead to a social and time imbalance. This imbalance is not fair to your family and loved ones or your employer. 

A lack of balance may also lead to a number of problems like lack of focus , fatigue , substance abuse , health issues , divorce and even depression. These are just a few problem that could arise from imbalance. 

So how do you achieve work / life balance ? 

Here are just a few tips on achieving this balance :

  • Prioritise your time. Ask yourself what is urgent and important or even what is important but not urgent.
  • Set out some personal time. It is very important to make time for yourself and your family. 
  • Have set working hours and stick to them. Set work hours for yourself and do everything in your power to stick to them. 
  • Manage your time , long term. Create a timeline of your activities. Include family commitments - such as holidays , birthday parties , etc. This will remind you that you are not available for work on these days. 
  • Make exercise a must do , not a should do. Ensure that you make exercise a priority. A healthy body means a healthy mind. 
  • Do what you love. Make time for something that you love doing and give it the time it deserves. 
  • Be realistic. At the end of each day ask yourself what worked today and what didn't. 
  • Take a break. Remember to take time out throughout your day. Get up and go make a cup of coffee or just go for a walk. This will refresh your mind.
  • Have that holiday. Make time for a holiday. Even if it is just a weekend away. 
As with most things in life this balance between work and life will not come easy. You need to have discipline and practice this everyday. One thing I can say with certainty is that it will be worth it , not only for you but also your employer , family and loved ones. 

Work / life balance is not just something you need ........... it is something you deserve.

Blessings for everyone and stay safe



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