There was a time when the boundaries between our work life and personal life were fairly transparent. These days, however, work has invaded our personal space and sustaining a work-life balance has become a tough task. For a lot of people, trying to juggle between the demands of a career and a personal life has become an on-going challenge, particularly at a time when companies are expecting more from the survivors.
Accomplishing the elusive “work-life balance” can often feel like a far-fetched objective, especially for people who try to give their 100% to everything. So in today’s “do more with less” competitive reality, how can you keep your work from consuming your entire life? And how can you manage your family and career and feel gratified with both?
Let’s take a look at what all you can do to strike that perfect balance:
Do what you love to do:
The silhouette of your work holds the most significant limelight when it comes to maintaining the equilibrium. If you do what you love, then creating that balance becomes way easier. So do what interests you and triggers you intellectually! Something which makes you happy even after a gruelling day of work. Every job comes with its set of problems, deadlines and typical confusions. But if you love what you do, all these negativities can look like the positive facets of the bigger picture.
Don’t be married to your work:
It can be appealing to increase the hours at your work, especially if you’re trying to manage an increasing workload or looking forward to earning a promotion or simply keeping your head above the water. Sometimes, stretching at work is necessary. But if you’re working for a large chunk of your time, your personal life is sure to take a thump. You are sure to experience fatigue and be constantly tired. You might even miss out on significant occasions or milestones and end up harming your relationship with your near and dear ones. So how do you handle this situation? Well… the trick is to draw a thin line between your personal and professional life and never let the two overlap. Remember- name, fame, money and your job are all transitory. The only constant in your life is your family and friends. So cherish their presence and give them your time, attention and love.
Have the right attitude:
It’s all about having the right perspective! Sometimes, just a slight change in the way you see things can make a hell lot of a difference. So set your priorities right and aim for contentment rather than just filling your bank account with useless currency. Enjoy what life has to offer! Plan a holiday to some exotic location or go for a football game with your kids or simply give a surprise gift to your spouse. Schedule time for people, activities and events that matter to you and give your 100% to your work during your office time.
Track your time:
Pay attention to your everyday tasks, be it work-related or your personal activities. Decide what is essential and cut or delegate activities which you think you cannot handle or do not enjoy. Do what is required and let go of the rest. It’s great to have a solid support system both at work and family. Enlist reliable loved ones and friends to pitch in when working overtime or travelling.
Learn to disconnect:
With technology being able to connect anyone at any time from practically anywhere in the world, there seems to be no boundary between work life and home — unless you wish to create it deliberately. So make a conscious effort to separate work from your personal time. Leave work back in the office when with your family. A lot of time saying no at work also helps! When you quit accepting responsibilities out of guilt or a wrong sense of obligation, you’ll surely have more time to finish work that is more important.
Striking a healthy work-life balance isn’t a one-shot deal. It is a constant progression as your family, work life and interests change. Just look over your priorities periodically and make changes if required to make certain that you’re on track.
