How many times do you find yourself saying “I don’t have time!” to important tasks and commitments? If you’re like many people these days, you may be working a lot and relaxing very little. With technology always advancing, there are many ways for work to creep into your personal life and make you feel like you’re always on the clock. This can raise stress and anxiety levels, and take away from the rewarding experience of a new job. The good news is that there are simple ways to put balance back in your life, so that both your work and personal life get the attention they need.
Set Priorities and Goals
If you’re as productive as possible during your work day, there will be much less of a need to catch up on work during your personal time. Make yourself a to-do list at work each morning by order of priority. If you set a goal to accomplish the important things on the list every day and check them off as you go, you’ll soon find order in your work day that you haven’t had before, as well as a feeling of accomplishment.
Put Away Technology
Many people seem to have their phone permanently attached to their hand. A recent study showed that the average person checks their phone 46 times a day. Make it a point to check your phone and email less often throughout the day and, if possible, to check only rarely after work and on days off. You’ll be happier as a result and feel less stress, and your relationships will improve since you’ll be more present to the people in your life.
Figure Out Ways to Save Time
For those with busy schedules and little free time, it can seem like any free time you do have is spent running errands. Consider figuring out other ways to get those errands accomplished so you don’t have to spend your valuable time on them. Can you order groceries online and have them delivered? Hire someone to mow your lawn or shovel the driveway? Do more financial transactions online so you don’t have to wait at the bank? These may cost a little extra money, but the hours you would save that you could instead spend relaxing with family and friends will be worth it.
Plan Downtime and Travel
Even if you have the type of job where you are busy all the time, it’s still important that you set aside time to relax. Working all the time will only lead to burnout. Make some time to enjoy the efforts of your labor and have some fun. Also, find time to travel, even if you can only manage weekend trips. Getting out of your everyday environment is critical to help you recharge your energy and get perspective. You’ll only be better at work as a result!
Stop saying “I’m too busy.”
Busy is really code for “that’s not important to me right now.” So every time you want to say, “I’m too busy,” replace it with “that’s not important to me right now. Once you do that, I guarantee it’ll be a lot harder for you to say no to the experiences, people, and events that contribute to a harmonious work-life balance, because you know how important they are.
Don’t forget to take time for yourself.
A lot of people avoid taking time for themselves because they mistakenly believe that if they don’t have an hour to indulge, it’s not worth it. But that’s not true! You can take care of yourself five or ten minutes at a time! For example, I used to sell skin care products, and I’d keep one of the softening scrubs at my kitchen sink at all times. Once I was done with the dishes, I’d rub it on my hands for a few minutes. It took very little time, but it was so relaxing and made me feel nurtured. I encourage you to look for similar experiences that you can indulge in on a consistent basis to make yourself feel nurtured and taken care of.
