20 Tips for Work Life Balance

Work gives you the focus that you need in life and also pays the bills. However, personal life is also important. Our personal life includes socializing, downtime, time spent with family. In other words, it is everything apart from our work life.

A balance between work and personal life is crucial for a person’s happiness and mental peace. Constantly working, thinking about work isn’t too healthy as our mind and body need some downtime. And of course, we cannot always be going away on vacations or taking leave from work. There needs to be balanced. Working too much will lead to burnout and taking too much time off from work can lead to boredom. 

A working professional has to understand when he/she needs to take a break from work. Following are a few tips to how one can maintain a healthy work-life balance.

1. Managing Time

Learn to manage time as you go about your day. For example, chunk up tasks like replying to emails and messages into one particular hour. If you try to answer them as they come, then you will lose time in refocusing on the task at hand.

2. Taking a Break

Ensure that you take small breaks throughout the workday. These breaks help in recharging the mind after some constant pressure. 

3. Hiring Right 

If you lead a team, then having efficient and responsible subordinates can take the pressure off of you. Your subordinates can manage tasks and don’t have to depend on you, meaning you have more time for your tasks and for yourself.

4. Planning Ahead

Respect your time and protect your schedule. If you have decided that you will complete some task at a certain time, don’t push it back at the last minute to do something else. Stick to your plan and work as per schedule. 

5. Creating Boundaries

Create boundaries to balance your personal and work life. Avoid giving out your personal mobile number, so that people don’t disturb you in your personal time.

6. Focusing on the Important

Focus more on what’s important. Spend time on things only you can do and no one else. Streamline your work and complete the most important tasks first to ensure you have everything covered that requires your attention. 

7. Stepping Out

Working alone can get depressing at times. So, meet likeminded people and support each while discussing ideas. A brisk walk and steady socializing is important to keep your mind active. 

8. Doing what you love

Do what you love in your downtime to recharge batteries. Do what makes you feel good, be it meeting your old friends or participating in hobbies to keep your energetic and get going.

9. Understanding the troughs and peaks

Understand the times when you are most productive and when you are not. Plan your work accordingly.

10. Taking help 

You don’t have to do everything yourself. At the end of the day, what matters is that the task is complete. Take help from your colleagues or delegate it to your subordinate. 

11. Hobbies

Hobbies are a great way of destressing and energizing yourself. 

12. Prioritizing

Work will always continue, but you must decide what needs to be done first and what is urgent. Don’t eat into your “me” time for non-urgent deliverables.

13. Being mindful

Be present in both your persona; and productive life. Don’t let one aspect eclipse the other.

14. Planning schedule

Plan on what times you are going to focus on your tasks, the times you are going to focus on meeting and the times you are going to take breaks. 

15. Connecting and learning

Working all the time cooped up in the office can be unhealthy. Instead, focus a little on networking and connecting with other professionals or take up a new learning course. 

16. Hard stops

Professionals must try to create hard stops on their schedules, whether they are working or not. Sometimes people get so engrossed in what they are doing, that it eats away at the time that has been set aside for something different. 

17. Setting work hours

Set your work hours and stick to it.

18. Using technology

Use technology to your advantage. Use skype; then you don’t have to drive to a meeting that is an hour away from your current location. You are saving time.

19. Controlling your mind

Manage your mind through meditation or other activities when anxiety and self-doubt creep in.

20. Keeping Track 

Track the time you spend on each task. This will give you an idea where it isn’t being utilized effectively. 

If you follow some of the tips mentioned here, you should be able to get by fine in your work and personal life.