Obtaining a healthy balance between work and life is hard work and ongoing, but it is rewarding and worth the effort. Even if your job is totally fulfilling, you need to balance it with your life’s responsibilities and pleasures. There is no perfect ration between work and personal life, so the key is determining your own priorities, and scheduling your time accordingly. Consider the following guidelines.
Take care of yourself:
You can’t give your best at work or in your personal life if you don’t take care of yourself. Choose where you want to spend your time and stick to your choices.
- Schedule time to exercise. Studies prove that people who take time for physical exercise – walking, swimming, biking, workouts, tennis, etc. – even if it’s only twice per week have more energy for the rest of their tasks
- Eat right – sleep right. Our bodies need healthy nutrition and adequate sleep in order to function properly. Taking time to sleep and putting in healthy “fuel” increases our ability to cope with the demands of life and work.
- Spend fifteen to twenty minutes each day doing something you enjoy. Read an article in your favorite magazine, take a walk, meditate, or follow the news on your favorite sports team.
Schedule time for family, friends, and community on your calendar:
We schedule meetings, dentist appointments, haircuts, etc. and keep them. Scheduling time to talk isn’t impersonal – it says “you are important” and worthy of my commitment.
- Schedule date nights with your spouse or significant other. They don’t have to be expensive – a picnic in a quiet park, where you can talk, can reap long-term benefits
- Schedule time for family fun – choose activities or hobbies your children will enjoy.
- Take your vacation time for vacation. If you aren’t going anywhere, use your days one or two at a time, restoring yourself or doing something fun with the people closest to you.
- Devote time to your community – schedule a once per month visit to a local nursing home, veterans center, pet shelter, food bank, soup kitchen, etc. Giving to others brings personal satisfaction and balances our perspective in many areas.
Treat technology as your tool – not your master:
We live in a world of instant communication, which can be wonderful, and . . . not so wonderful. Put it aside and spend time with family and friends.
- Set specific times each day to check your email and forget it the rest of the time.
- Learn to ignore your cell phone after hours or turn it off. Just because you can be reached, does not mean to have to be available 24/7.
- Use the internet as a tool, but don’t be sucked into losing blocks of time in mindless surfing.
Spending time with family and friends, giving of ourselves to community and charitable organizations, devoting time to personal growth, are all an important part of our life. Learning to balance work against these isn’t easy. Prioritize, choose what is important, and create a plan that works for you. In the end, work will be better because you took time for life and life will be better because you are productive at work.
Contact Friday Services. We care about work and will find you the position that best helps you maintain a work-life balance.
