Top 6 Secrets to Balancing Work and Life Effectively

Woman with 2 yojng children playing under a blanket

There’s no doubt about it, life can get pretty overwhelming.

That’s why it’s so important to find a proper balance between your work life and home life. Both are equally important. You need to work to live, but at the same time, you shouldn’t live to work. If you’re having trouble balancing work and life effectively, there are a few things that you can implement and change to correct the balance. Not only will you feel more satisfied and at peace, but chances are the quality of both will improve exponentially.

SET MANAGEABLE GOALS

A great way to provide both your home and work life with stability and organization is by setting manageable goals. Setting goals can help you to plan, and give both yourself and those around you with a realistic expectation of what you are planning for the future.

Some goals for your home life could include:

  • To declutter and downsize personal items
  • To create and contribute to a savings account
  • To redecorate or renovate
  • To prepare meals for the entire week
  • To spend more time with family members
  • To spend more time taking care of yourself

Some goals for your work life could include:

  • To bring a lunch every day
  • To manage time more efficiently
  • To take on a new project
  • To get to know your fellow workers
  • To use an agenda, workbook, or planner
  • To advance or excel in a certain aspect of your position

Based on your position at work or current home life, there is a wide variety of personalized goals that you could set for yourself. The idea here is to plan for a more positive and focused future.

UNPLUG FROM TECHNOLOGY

We all need a break from technology every now and then. It’s not unheard of to feel overwhelmed or controlled by your mobile device, or other technology at work or home. That’s why it’s so important to remove yourself from the depths of technology and take a break when you need it.

Sometimes you may think that you’re multi-tasking and being more productive by using your mobile device at work, but studies have shown that you’re more prone to error due to distractions.

While at work, turn your cell phone off or set it to airplane mode to avoid use. During lunch, read a book instead of surfing the Internet or watching television. While you’re not on the clock, you might experience more freedom to use your mobile device, watch a movie, go on the computer, or even play video games. Even when you’re at home it can be very beneficial to avoid technology for a certain amount of time.

Create a list of things that you could do instead of using technology. This list could include:

  • Gardening
  • Jogging
  • Spending time with loved ones
  • Spending time with family pets
  • Housework
  • Reading a book
  • Playing a board game

You could even use this new-found free time to work on some of those goals we talked about earlier.

EFFICIENCY AND TIME MANAGEMENT

Getting things done in the amount of time you’re provided can feel so amazing. There’s nothing quite like completing a task on time, regardless if it’s paying the bills, cleaning the house, or finishing a project at work.

When you are assigned a task to complete by a certain date, it may feel a little overwhelming as it gets added to your mental queue of tasks to be done. Luckily, it doesn’t have to feel that way. With the right efficiency and time management skills, you can organize your workload properly and get the work done on time.

You shouldn’t ever bite off more than you can chew. If you feel as though your plate is full when more work is being assigned, speak up. Your boss, coworkers, or spouse may be able to empathize with you and help you to reorganize your workload and reprioritize your tasks.

Once assigned a task, ensure that you have everything you need to work on it. Once you have everything you need, you should schedule time in your weekly or monthly schedule to tackle the task, allowing more than enough time for some back and forth, bumps in the road, and waiting for people to get back to you.

UNDER COMMIT, OVER DELIVER

This one is extremely simple. Even if you plan to complete a certain amount, don’t promise that. You never know what will come up that could push your deadline further back and interrupt your task.

When you give yourself more than enough time to complete a task, it can take away some of the added stress and pressure that comes along with any deadline. If you do happen to complete the task before your proposed due date, you can feel relief as you impress your spouse, supervisor, family member, or co-worker with work that is completed early.

PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE

You are important.

If you find that you’re consistently feeling stressed or overwhelmed, that can affect the quality of your work and home life. It’s okay to take a break now and then, to focus on yourself and recharge. Try going to bed a little earlier, having a bath, going to the gym, eating a well-balanced diet, or reconnecting with some loved ones.

You’d be surprised at how far a little self-care can go.

GET HELP OR SUPPORT

Are you feeling overwhelmed or stressed out? Your physical and mental health is extremely important. If you find that you’re experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, or exhaustion, ask for help. It’s okay to admit that you need a little support from time to time. Regardless if it’s a childcare professional, therapist, or a friend, a little help can go a long way.

Looking for more information about creating and maintaining a balanced lifestyle? Take a look at some of the other articles in our blog section. If you’re having trouble finding work in Ontario and British Columbia, contact us today! ABL Employment can help you find a temporary labour job in no time at all!

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