It can be difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance, especially if there are stressors in your work, life, or both. At times, you could even find that your work distracts you from your personal life. For example, one study found that roughly 38% of employees have had to miss important moments in their lives due to work obligations. Ideally, work should not cloud one’s ability to enjoy their life. Of course, separating work from yourself can be challenging at times, especially since you may spend a good portion of your week at work.
Fortunately, there could be solutions to addressing work-life balance concerns. Here are some ways that could help you achieve a healthier work-life balance. That way you can spend more time with your family, take time to yourself, while still performing well at work.
Exercise
Exercise sounds like a cliché, but it is only a cliché because it can show great results for health.
If you can improve your physical health, your mental health typically follows and improves as well. It is recommended to take some time for yourself and do regular exercise if possible. It does not have to be difficult or time-consuming. Even ten minutes a day is better than none.
You do not have to be a super athlete to enjoy exercise either. If you find activities that you enjoy, even if that entails a brisk walk through nature, you could reap the benefits of physical activity.
Figure out the best sleep-work schedule for you
Are you a morning person, or are you a night owl? Depending on the answer, you may find more success working at certain times in the day. This quick tip may be able to boost your productivity a surprising amount. Generally speaking, according to the CDC, adults should be aiming for at least 7 hours of sleep per every 24 hours. While sleep needs may vary from one person to the next, it could help to determine how much sleep leaves you feeling the most rested.
Set a clear timeline for achieving your goals
It can be helpful to set goals and events in mind that are achievable and also visible, that way you may be able to feel better about your situation.
Instead of saying you want to be closer with your family and friends, you may feel more comfortable and successful if you plan out exactly what you want to do. Instead of saying you want to be more productive, mark down successful work-related numbers or events.
For example, you may want to go to a music festival with someone, so you plan that outing on a certain date. At the same time, you want to finish a presentation for work, and you can put down a date of when you need that to be finished.
With events and due dates clearly planned on a calendar, you may be able to juggle your work-life balance better because you know what exactly is coming up.
Take short breaks and stretch
It is common to think that you have to work the full day without stopping until something has been finished. However, research has shown that it may be better for efficiency and mental health if you get up every 15 or 30 minutes, just to stretch for a few moments.
These short breaks of getting up and clearing your mind can help you be more focused and productive throughout the day. By boosting productivity, you can finish more work and therefore be able to take more time for yourself.
Establish your boundaries and priorities
Between family time and work time, it can be difficult to take any time for yourself.
Set up some boundaries and make a list of priorities. For example, you may want to tell others that unless it is an emergency, they should not message you when they know that you are working.
At the same time, if you are asked to do overtime at work but you had planned to rest with a friend that day, it may be good to evaluate how urgent that work is and whether you can decline.
Let go of perfectionism
If you are continuously stressed about your work, it can actually make you perform worse in the long run. Experiencing added stress can make people more irritable, thus impacting the quality of their time with loved ones.
It can be a huge stress relief to stop trying to be perfect, in both work matters and in life matters. Of course, this may be considerably easier said than done, but just keeping it in mind and giving yourself some extra compassion can make a meaningful difference. Once you focus more on the quality of the time you spend with your family and the work you do rather than always achieving perfect results, you may be better able to achieve a peace of mind.