How to Achieve the Perfect Work-Life Balance

Aug 31

10:21

2017

Vanessa Fardi

Being able to achieve the appropriate balance between work and your personal life can be really challenging, especially if you hold a senior position or if you are self-employed. Even though it might seem impossible to reach the desired balance between heavy workloads, family responsibilities, relationships, and trying to have some free time to pursue personal interests, it is very important to at least try. Recent studies have pinpointed stress as one of the main reasons for mental health imbalance, and that alone should scare us to death. However, stress affects other aspects of our health, weakening our immune system and making us more susceptible to different diseases.

Achieving the perfect work-life balance is not only beneficial for us since a happy employer leads to a happy company. Employees are more productive when they confront low-stress situations, making them take less sick days and increasing the possibilities of them staying in their jobs longer.

In order to help you achieve the ideal work-life balance, we have done our homework to bring you the best tips on how to easily get there:

Unplug: Once the clock hits five, you should completely disconnect from work, unless you have an important presentation coming up; otherwise, leave all work-related thoughts and activities at the office. Avoid constantly checking your work email after hours, just use your social media as a distraction, and take advantage of your free afternoons to spend quality time with your family, to exercise, or to rest for a while. You’ve spent eight hours sitting in front of a computer, you deserve it. Moreover, if you become too available to your boss, there’s a chance they’ll overwork you; so, it’s best to say no when they make unrealistic demands.

Forget perfection: Sometimes, just good enough is better than perfect. Don’t strain yourself by going the extra mile all the time. Save your effort for when it’s really worth it. That added stress can be what takes you over the edge; being perfect is way too much pressure. Learning to delegate can also help reduce stress by cutting down on your responsibilities.

Work from home: If you have a tech-oriented job or if it’s possible for you to work from the comfort of your own home, ask your boss if you can do so at least once or twice a week. Just being at home instead of the office can reduce stress significantly, especially when you don’t have to commute. Moreover, not having your boss around to add to the pressure, can be a great advantage.

Meditate and exercise: Make sure to take the time to relax and unwind every day. If it’s becoming too much for you to handle, step away from your desk, go somewhere quiet, and do some breathing exercises. This will help you clear your head and make you more productive during a frustrating time. Exercising is one of the best techniques to reduce stress, filling your brain with endorphins and giving you more energy overall. Moreover, don’t forget to eat; there are even some recommended foods that can help you reduce stress.

Talk about it: Getting support from your friends and family, or even coworkers, can really help reduce stress, in addition to letting you spend quality time with them. Talking to your loved ones about your work-related problems or successes will help you boost your confidence and allow you to vent.

Following these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to making the impossible happen:

achieving the perfect work-life balance