If you’re finding it more challenging than ever to juggle the demands of your job and the rest of your life, you’re not alone. Today people are putting in extra hours, or using their smartphones to be on call when they’re not physically at work.
Checking emails before you go to bed, or worse when you’re laying by the pool on holiday? It’s an all too familiar tale and we run the risk of burning out which is no good for you, your health, your family or your productivity at work.
There are ways that you can bring a little more balance to your daily routine and it’s important to focus your time and attention on things you can control.
Here are some suggestions:
1 – Build some ‘downtime’ into your week for what makes you happy
Schedule in some time at the start of the week to see your friends or spend time with your family. Arrange a shopping trip after work, or a trip to the cinema. Whatever floats your boat! It breaks up the ‘block’ of a week and also gives you something to look forward to.
2 – Stop activities that drain your time or energy
Learn when to say ‘no’ and understand that’s not a bad thing. If you’re trying to be everything to everyone then the reverse will probably happen. Look at your day/week and consider what tasks or activities are time consuming or don’t make you feel great and look for alternative ways of handling them, or not doing them at all.
3 – Exercise
Exercise….it’s the word of dread for most. Yes we know it will give you more energy, but we often we haven’t got the energy to do it! 15-30 minutes exercise a day is achievable and find something you love doing. There’s lots to choose from, even if it’s just a light walk with the dog. Exercise helps clear the mind, boosts your mood, gives you more energy and promotes better sleep!
4 – A little relaxation goes a long way
However you unwind, schedule time in your week to make that happen. Leave the office at a reasonable time, or on time a couple of times during the week. Take a bath, listen to your favourite CD, read a book – make time for you to unwind.
5 – Pace yourself
Use ‘to do’ lists to empty the mind and help prioritise your day and week. On a Monday it can feel like a very long list, but it doesn’t all have to be done on that day. You can space it out and give tasks the time they deserve making you feel more in control and composed. Don’t approach things in a rush as they can feel more onerous than perhaps they are.
There’s no quick fixes to achieving the perfect work/life balance and nothing you’ll have read here will be revolutionary, but yet few of us make the time for ourselves to do these things and attempt to fix the problem.
When you look after yourself and you hit that sweet spot in the work/life balance conundrum then everything feels better. Maybe it’s not the job, or the company that you want to leave. Maybe by fixing some of these things that job, or that company might just seem completely different!
Contact us for more information.