Within the world of work, there is a lot of pressure on employees to get tasks finished as soon as possible and to be the best that they can be. Many people feel like they have to work longer hours and sacrifice personal time to achieve these goals. This means that creating a balance between work and life can be extremely challenging.
However, spending time with family and friends away from work is incredibly important. Not only does it lower a person’s stress levels, but it makes them more productive. You might think that extra hours at work allow you to achieve more, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, it could be leading to burnout.
Tips for a Happy and Productive Life
Here are some tips that can help you find a balance between work and life.
1. Focus on Priorities
If you’re like most people, you probably have a list of items you need to get done – both at work and home. To ensure that you focus on the most important tasks to balance your work and life, you need to focus on the priorities.
Look at your to-do list. Which items have a deadline that is sooner rather than later? Those are the tasks you should be focusing on. Are there items that can be put off for a few days, weeks, or even months? Then do it.
Taking care of the most pressing tasks first will ensure that you don’t overextend yourself on things that don’t need to be done right away. Once you have gotten the high-priority tasks out of the way, you can focus on the other jobs you have been putting off.
In addition to focusing on your priorities, you also want to structure your day in a way that allows you to get work done. Most people don’t have one or two tasks each day that they need to accomplish. You are probably juggling multiple projects, and that’s okay. Give yourself time each day to work on them.
No matter how much time you need each day, whether an hour, two, or thirty minutes, block out that time on your calendar to work. Don’t let anything distract you during this time. That may mean closing your office door, putting in headphones, transferring your phone to voicemail, and turning off computer notifications.
Do what is necessary to be successful. Make sure your coworkers know that you can’t be bothered. Then, once that block of time is up, you can check your messages, talk to others, or whatever. When the next block of time comes up to work on the next project, once again minimize distractions.
2. Don’t Take on More than You Can Handle
One of the reasons that many people have so many tasks to complete is because they don’t know how to say no or delegate work to other people. If this happens to be you, then it’s imperative that you figure out how to lessen your load.
This doesn’t mean that you don’t do any work at all. It just means that you know what your priorities are and what you can achieve in a day, week, month, etc. That’s when creating a list of priorities and maintaining a calendar is beneficial.
Your time is just as valuable as everyone else’s, so don’t say yes to taking on new projects if you can’t fit them into your schedule. If the request is coming from your boss, there is a nice way to let them know you already have enough on your plate.
Should you be the boss that needs some help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Your employees may be more than willing (and able) to help you with projects and prove that they are ready for more responsibility.
3. Take Breaks
With your workload, it may seem like taking breaks is out of the question. However, stepping away from your desk is essential if you want to stay focused and productive.
Even short, three-minute breaks may be all that you need to stay focused while at work. Work in a way that’s convenient for you. If that means working for 30 minutes and then taking a break for three, do it. If you prefer to work in one-hour time blocks and take 15-minute breaks, you can do that as well.
When you’re on your break, distance yourself from work, take this time to send friends and family texts, or check social media. Head to the break room for a healthy snack, or step outside to get some fresh air. Any of these can help you feel refreshed and come back to your desk feeling focused and ready to work.
4. Leave Work at Work
The advancements in technology have made it possible for us to be connected to work no matter where we’re at. We can receive emails on our phones and attend meetings while sitting in an airport or riding public transportation.
However, if you’re looking for a way to balance life and work, you’ll want to leave work at work. That means that when your day is over, don’t look at or answer work emails until the next business day. Unless you have to deal with an emergency, turn off notifications and focus on having fun outside of the office.
5. Take Time Off
Not only should you be leaving work at work, but you also need to schedule some time off. This doesn’t have to be an extended period of time; even a few days can be beneficial.
When you are out of the office, don’t think about what’s going on there or what you’ll have to return to. Stay in the moment with your family and/or friends, or simply enjoy your time alone.
Finding Balance Is Important
Creating a balance between work and life is essential for your health and happiness. Without this balance, you’ll become overly stressed, which could lead to illness and depression. Do what is necessary to be productive at work as well as have a meaningful, joyful life.
