Everyone talks about needing work-life balance but how many really achieve it? Life moves quickly, so finding the right balance between the two is a must. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to achieve this delicate balance, especially if you have a family and work a full-time job. Does that mean it’s impossible to live a life that doesn’t revolve around racing to get things done? Not at all. All it takes is the right mindset and some time to get into the swing of things. In this article, we’ll be going over how you can perfect your work-life balance.
Prioritize What’s Important
Achieving a harmonious balance begins with your priorities. Think about what’s most important to you professionally and personally. Then, create a list of how much time you think you need to complete those priorities without having to sacrifice the other. Once you determine how much time is really needed, you’ll be able to divvy up your time and do what you need to do without stressing about it.
Get Organized
If you always seem to run out of time or not be able to keep track of important deadlines, your organization skills might need a boost. Just like your priority list, you need to create a to-do list for both your work and familial responsibilities. Once you see everything on paper, you’ll be able to divide your time accordingly without losing focus. You can also use an app to keep track of important dates and deadlines.
This is especially important when it comes to your finances. Being financially sound not only alleviates stress, but it also gives you access to better interest rates on credit cards and even lets you become a student loan cosigner. As your child’s cosigner, you can help them cover the cost of tuition while in college. You may also get tax breaks as well.
You also need to establish clear cut boundaries at work and home. Setting boundaries helps you avoid being overworked and taking on more responsibilities than you can realistically handle. You might want to attend every field trip your child has, however, it’s probably not possible. Instead of working overtime and running yourself ragged, ask your partner to step in and go. You’ll not only feel better knowing they didn’t go alone, but also be able to spend quality time with them afterwards as they tell you all about it.
Speak With Your Boss
If you’re really feeling overworked and not able to dedicate enough time to your family, you need to speak to your boss. Communicate how you‘re feeling, why you feel this way and which solutions you think will work for best for you. Most bosses understand how important it is to spend time with family, even when they have deadlines to meet. If you’re a hard worker overall and continually meet your benchmarks, they’ll probably agree you deserve more a break. Most importantly, be honest about how you’re feeling. If you feel like you’re burnt out, you need to share that with them. They may be able to offer suggestions or accommodations at work that lighten your load.
Make Time for Yourself
Making time for yourself is what work-life balance is all about. It’s the time you spend relaxing and doing what helps you feel your best. You can do anything ranging from writing down personal thoughts, doing your favorite hobby, watching an episode of TV, reading a book, or just relaxing in a quiet environment. Even if you’re someone with a tight schedule, you should still set at least one day to just relax and not focus on work.
