With 30 percent of us saying that work affects our social lives, it’s no wonder so many of us what to achieve a better balance in our life. Here nutritionist and exercise physiologist Caitlin Reid shows you how.
Work-life balance is quickly becoming one of the most wanted things in life. However, having the ability to effectively manage our paid work with personal development, community interests, family commitments and health remains elusive for many.
Working nine to five may have been a hit for Dolly Parton, but for many of us today, working nine to five just doesn’t seem to cut it. We may start earlier, work back late or skip lunch, all in the name of getting our work done. Even when we’re finished in the office, technology such as smartphones and laptops make us contactable 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Too much work and not enough play means we miss personal milestones, neglect our health, lose the ability to relax and fail to contribute to the community. While it may be difficult to strike a balance between work, home, community and personal time, neglecting just one of these areas can threaten the vitality of all. To achieve better balance in your life, follow these tips.
Decide what is most important to you. Is it your health, family or career? When you have determined your priorities, keep a log and assess how much time each week you spend on each of these areas. You should see a correlation between the two. If there isn’t, chances are you’re devoting too much time to activities that matter the least to you. Outsource or stop these tasks.
At the end of each day, set your priorities for the following day and designate a strict time frame for each area of your life. This may sound over the top, but with the fast-paced lifestyle we all lead, managing your time is a must.
Create a distinction between work and home life by going for a walk, reading a book or having a bath when you get home from work. Avoid being available 24 hours a day by switching off all electronic media when arriving home. Use this time to improve relationships with family and friends or recharge with some alone time.
Saying “no” can be hard for many, however it is perfectly fine to do so, particularly when a task may be creating you unnecessary stress or taking up so much time you haven’t any time left to sleep. By losing the things you take on out of guilt, you’ll make more time for the activities that really mean the most to you.
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