5 Tips for a Better Work-Life Balance

06 Mar 5 Tips for a Better Work-Life Balance

In short, work-life balance is the state of equilibrium where a person equally prioritizes the demands of their career and the demands of their personal life. Some of the common reasons that lead to a poor work-life balance include:

• Employers expecting salaried employees to work 60+ hour weeks
• Downsizing/Task Shifts – 3 employees are laid off and their duties are shifted to you
• Stagnant pay – needing to work a second job
• Picking up extra shifts – extra overtime pay
• No control – you are at your employers “beck and call”

A good work-life balance is critical to your wellbeing.  When you are in balance, you have less stress, a lower risk of burnout and a greater sense of well-being. We know how critical a good Work Life Balance is to our health, so why are so many of us out of balance? 

Most times our work life balance is off because we are in the Employee Mindset, we are working too much, and we fall into the trade time for money trap.  You want the security of a regular paycheck, so you become fully subservient to your Employer.  Many employees fear that they will be fired if they don’t succumb to their employer’s requests for more and more work time.

Here are 5 steps for a more satisfying Work Life Balance

1.  Work Smarter not Harder

My first advice to you will always be, get out of your comfort zone, get out of the employee mindset, and fire your employer!  Become an Entrepreneur and be your own boss!  Building your own business, working your passion gives you back control of your life.  It allows you to write the story of your life and build your legacy on your terms!

2. Prioritize your health

Your overall physical, emotional, and mental health should be your first concern. Prioritizing your health first and foremost will make you a healthier and a happier person  Prioritizing your health doesn’t have to consist of radical or extreme activities. It can be as simple as daily meditation or exercise. 

Real Life Decision: Health vs Money

I’ve done it all my life – if I was sick, I still went into work.  I usually only had a few sick days per year.  If they were used up and I didn’t go into work, I lost 8 hours of pay!  It’s an unfortunate fact of life, deciding between health or money.  The reality is, at the end of the month, my health won’t pay the rent, but money will!  Think about this, when you are your own boss, if you need a sick day, you take a sick day.  Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly causing you to take more days off in the future. 

3.  Don’t be Afraid to Unplug and Put Your Phone Down

Cutting ties with the outside world from time to time allows us to recover from weekly stress and gives us space for other thoughts and ideas to emerge. Unplugging can mean something simple like meditating, yoga, or exercising instead of checking work emails. 

Most phones have a daily usage report.  If you haven’t looked at this report on your phone lately, find it, it can be a true reality check!  My weekly usage used to average 9-12  hours a day!  That means that for most of my waking hours I was on my phone. That horrified me!  Since I found that report I made a conscious effort to reduce my phone time and I have found that my memory has improved, and I feel plugged back into life.

Start Your Day with Positivity

To help your mental health and start your day on a positive note, practice SAVES and get your brain energized for the day ahead:

S ilence – 5 minutes of silence – amazing how much this clears your mind!!

A ffirmations – Look in the mirror say 3 positive traits that make you awesome

V isualize – close your eyes and for 5 minutes visualize your perfect life

E xercise – 5 minutes – anything that gets your blood moving and energizes you

S cribe – write 3 things you are thankful for in your life that don’t cost anything

4.  Accept that there is no ‘perfect’ work-life balance

When you hear work-life balance, you probably imagine having an extremely productive day at work and leaving early to spend the other half of the day with friends and family. While this may seem ideal, it is not always possible. 

Don’t strive for the perfect schedule; strive for a realistic one. Some days, you might focus more on work, while other days you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. Balance is achieved over time, not each day

5.  Set boundaries and work hours

Set boundaries for yourself and your colleagues, to avoid burnout. When you leave the office, avoid thinking about upcoming projects or answering company emails. Furthermore, consider having a separate computer or phone for work, so you can shut it off when you clock out. If that isn’t possible, use separate browsers, emails, or filters for your work and personal platforms.

Final Thoughts

So many of us are way off in our Work-Life balance.  We know we work too much; don’t stop to think about what it’s doing to our physical and mental health.  I hope you take these tips to heart and can re-balance Work and Life.  But, honestly, the best way to fix your Work-Life balance is to get away from the Employee Mindset, Fire Your Employer, and Be Your Own Boss.

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