Ask people what they want out of their career, and most will mention a good work life balance. Sure, great salary, advancement opportunities and benefits are great, but people are now starting to realise the benefits of more balance.
Ask people what they want out of their career, and most will mention a good work life balance. Sure, great salary, advancement opportunities and benefits are great, but people are now starting to realise the benefits of more balance.
If you’re looking to achieve a better work life balance, here are some strategies to help get you there while maintaining productivity.
Goal-setting and priorities
One of the most important steps in achieving a better work life balance is to determine what your priorities really are. Do you just want to work less? Do you want more time with family each day? Or do you want more time off in larger blocks for holidays? A great balance looks different for everybody, so make sure you decide what it means for you.
Once you’ve determined some priorities, it’s time to start setting goals. Breaking larger priorities into smaller, achievable goals is a great way to start. Importantly, when you set your goals, make sure you have time in your schedule to achieve them.
Use scheduling to your advantage
Planning makes life so much easier, especially if you’re looking to make some changes. If you still have quite rigid working hours, that’s fine. It just means you need to block away some time for the other things that are important to you in life. Whether it’s time with family, training for a new career or just hobbies, set your schedule accordingly.
Of course, a schedule is only as good as your desire and willingness to follow it, which is where setting boundaries comes in.
Set clear boundaries
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, at least temporarily. If you’re working from home, it can be difficult to separate work from family time. While it’s easier said than done if you have young children at home, try to set some boundaries for your time. That way, you’ll be productive getting your work done and your family will love the time you’ve set aside for them.
Look after your health
One thing’s for sure, if you’re not looking after yourself, you won’t be productive. Work life balance isn’t just about packing more and more into every day, and in fact this is likely to just leave you feeling more run-down. Start with eating better, or exercising a little more. Once you’re in a healthy routine, your mind and body will thank you!
Look after your personal relationships
Personal relationships are important to everybody, and looking after them is great for your well-being – and therefore your productivity. It can be difficult in the current environment to maintain those relationships, so make sure you’re doing what you can to stay connected. Consider video chats with friends, phone calls or any other ways you like to keep in touch.
Make time for yourself
Finally, don’t forget out a bit of ‘you time’! If you’re working hard, nurturing your personal relationships and staying productive, then you need some time for yourself. If you have interests or hobbies, schedule those in too. You’ve earned it!
