7 Simple Steps to a Better Work-Life Balance
Let’s just put it out there:
★ Working like a dog doesn’t help anyone… ★
It creates burnout, avoidable mistakes and resentment.
Having a poor work-life balance can affect everything from relationships to mental and physical health, work performance to poor
self-worth.
There are constant demands in this fast-paced world and it can become a real challenge to draw a line however creating a work-life balance is one of the most important things you can do for your mental and physical health.
Here are 7 simple things you can integrate to start the process:
01
Your Intentions
First and foremost, it will be beneficial for you to ask yourself ‘why do I get engrossed in my work?’ - determining this allows you to find tailored strategies to incorporate this work-life balance.
- is it a distraction method (from emotions, something challenging going on in life, to pretend everything is fine)?
- is it avoidance for something else (going home to an empty house, a toxic relationship or an unhappy house)?
- is it an inability to prioritise or time manage?
- is it a fear of saying ‘no’ and having an excessive workload?
- is it a way to get more money if you’re financially struggling?
- is it a people-pleasing strategy (to prove to yourself and your co-workers that you are first-class)?
- is it to show your boss you are worthy of a pay rise or promotion?
- is it to be noticed, validated and ‘liked’ more?
02
Time Management and Task Prioritisation
Everyone’s personality types operate a little different in terms of how they work - some of us (me!) love a planner and list, others prefer to work a little more randomly.
By spending a few minutes each morning managing your day’s tasks, you will find so much more time in your day
- set and stick to working hours (make these realistic and reasonable)
- make a daily to-do list (this can be as structured or ‘flowy’ as you like)
- be realistic in the tasks you will achieve for the day (avoid trying to get a week’s worth of tasks done in a day)
- order tasks from most urgent to least urgent and work your way down the list (eliminate bouncing around from task to task)
- plan breaks throughout your day to refresh your brain (you’re efficiency goes down the loo when your brain isn’t firing properly)
- delegate tasks when/where possible (sometimes it is hard to relinquish control however it is also necessary to not do everything!)
- avoid procrastinations and distractions (phones, colleagues, aimless web browsing, trying to do 10 tasks at once)
03
Self-Confidence and Assertiveness
Increasing confidence increases the ability to say no and be honest when your workload is getting too excessive.
When we lack confidence, we want to people please and we struggle with letting people down compared to being assertive in our worth and abilities.
It might be saying ‘no’ to a task that doesn’t align with you, that doesn’t fit your job role or that you just don’t have time to do.
04
Set and Honour Boundaries
Set, honour and be transparent with boundaries to yourself, your colleagues, boss, clients and family (remember we have our e-book on 'Setting Boundaries’ that you can email us for your FREE copy of).
Boundaries could look like:
- contactable time and working hours
- job role, responsibilities and tasks
- personal health and wellbeing
- standards and work performance
05
Prioritise Self-Care and Self-Awareness
Everything from sleep, hydration, exercise and a healthy diet to alone time, emotional regulation and enjoyment are going to help with your work-life balance.
I often hear people say “I don’t have time for the gym” or “I don’t have time to have a hobby” and my response is ALWAYS “you need to MAKE time”. Make self-care a non-negotiable in your day/week/month (and thank me later when you realise the benefit on literally every aspect of your life when you do 😉)
Becoming self-aware allows you to know when you need a break, when you are becoming run down or when you are being affected mentally, emotionally or physically. Prevention is always better than cure!
06
Find a Support Network
Your tribe is there to support you, be a listening ear, provide advice, keep you accountable and are people you can be honest, upfront and transparent with.
Find people who are going to do this for you and uplift you.
Speak to them about your goals and what you want to achieve, when you might be struggling or when you want support in changing lifestyle habits.
Distance yourself from those people who get caught up in a poor work-life balance, who relate your worth to your job/money or who struggle to prioritise time for you. These people will likely make you feel worse and (subconsciously) encourage you to continue the negative cycles.
07
Flexible Working Arrangements
Speaking to your company about various working arrangements will help prioritise family time, hobbies, health, down time and likely give you more time to complete work.
- Working from home might eliminate distractions, spend more time with your children and save hours of travel time that you could spend being productive.
- Working full time hours across 4 days might allow you to attend your child’s soccer game, help with home duties and give you time to prioritise yourself and your health.
- Working flexible hours might allow you to do the school run, fit in a hobby or gym class and help with the family morning/afternoon routines.
Creating a better work-life balance can be a big step for a lot of people.
Remember to take small steps, integrate one thing at a time, be honest with your support network and practice self-compassion.
If this resonates with you, we would love to hear from you.
Message, email or call us if you found these strategies beneficial, if they have helped your life or if you need any extra help.