Attempting to balance your professional and personal lives can be very difficult at times. Taking on too much at work and failing to schedule personal time, or over scheduling social obligations can result in fatigue, poor health, damaged relationships, and undue stress. To avoid these situations you should prioritize your time, and stick to a schedule. Here are four suggestions on how to do this:
1. Set aside a certain amount of work hours per day.
The ability to have access to your workplace, no matter where you are or what time it is, is amazing! However, you shouldn't be connected to the office 24/7. You should determine when and how many hours you need to be connected to work to do your job successfully and limit your work time to those time frames every day.
2. Block off "me time" for yourself every day.
Being healthy isn't just about exercise and choosing to eat apple slices over donuts. It is also about doing things to improve your mental health. Mental health is often overlooked, but is especially important when considering work-life balance.
Whether it's playing with your kids, taking an extra five minutes for lunch, or taking a bubble bath, you should schedule some "me time" every day to do something that makes you happy.
3. Establish a consistent sleeping pattern.
Bedtimes aren't just for children. Science tells us that being well-rested improves your overall health as well as your mood and attention span. Set a bedtime that gives you the appropriate amount of sleeping hours that you need to wake up and feel refreshed. This differs for everyone, so determine what the right schedule is for you.
4. Don't overextend yourself with social obligations.
While it is good to have a healthy social life; your interactions shouldn't become another chore on your list. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the pace of your current social interactions, the best advice that we have for you is to schedule out your personal obligations on a calendar and learn how to say no when you reach your cap and need some "me time".
Key Points
Maintaining a sustainable work-life balance can be difficult, but when you prioritize your day, and stick with your plan, it can be beneficial to not only you, but everyone you interact with. It is important to remember that putting your best foot forward for others requires you to be a healthy you first.
