Top 10 Ways To Achieve Work Life Balance

Photo source: Hans Splinter

10. Adjust your perspective of work

Most of us think of work as, well, work. However, sometimes switching our point of view to a less bleak perspective is all it takes to get us motivated again. Visualise how your small contribution in the office create harmony in the bigger picture. The work that you’re doing now is part of the long-term plan for achieving your long-term lifelong goals.

9. Utilise your leave days

Some workers prefer not to claim leave days because they have nothing planned. Accumulating leave may seem like a good idea at first, but most companies have a “use by” date so they either end up being wasted or have to be utilised at an inconvenient time. Take a day off to travel, bring your folks out for lunch or just to sleep in! Take a break.

8. Talk to people at work and outside of work

Nurture relationships wherever you are. Build friendships so that there won’t be any dissension or jealousy in the workplace. In the meantime, make the effort to properly connect with loved ones when at home.

Spend quality time and have quality conversations with your family members to ensure that they don’t feel disengaged from you. That will also help them to be more understanding when you go through stressful periods at work.

7. Have a bit of fun everyday

Schedule happy activities such as a weekly futsal session or a coffee meet up with a friend during the weeknights. Such activities rejuvenate you after a long day. Definitely a cure for weekend withdrawal symptoms.

6. Understand the difference between “urgent” and “important”

As much as we try to control them, certain circumstances will require us to disregard the whole concept of segregating work and home.

In those cases, try to identify which errands require your attention now (these matters are “urgent”) versus which things carry weight but are not pressing (these are “important”).

Matters which are both “urgent” and “important” will be the ones you need to attend to first.

5. Get enough sleep

We can’t change the fact that work begins at 8:30am or 9am, so avoid being nocturnal. Ensure that you get your regular seven hours of sleep every night so that you don’t feel sluggish before 11am. This will also help you make full use of your time in the office, thus reducing the need to work past office hours.

4.  Allocate time for exercise

Don’t underestimate the power of exercise. It’s not just about getting in shape, but also maintaining health, improving mental acuity and self-esteem too.

Don’t limit yourself to just going to the gym – working out can be fun: go for a swim or a dance class, or organise a badminton night once a week.

3.  Pursue a hobby, preferably one that isn’t work-related

Much of our time in the office requires using a specific kind of knowledge and staring at texts and screens all day. Being passionate and diligent about something not work-related can help you feel more purposeful outside of your work goals.

Activate other parts of your brain or skills by indulging in hobbies that enhance your other talents such as cycling, photography or even woodwork.

2. Don’t bring work home

Compartmentalise to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Create a space at work that is mentally conducive to increase productivity, but balance it out by ensuring that your space at home is emotionally and mentally comforting as well.

Avoid having these two spaces overlap unless absolutely necessary so that you learn how to switch your brain and mood from work mode to home mode.

1. Manage time wisely

In relation to the point above, one way to ensure that your work doesn’t cut into after office hours (or worse, weekends) is to make sure you get as much done as possible while in the office.

Stay focused and productive so that no one can fault you for leaving work at 5:30pm.

Click here for more top 10 articles.