Is There a way to Balance Work and Personal Life?

Sometimes it can feel like work eats up all of your time.  You’re either at the office until late or are constantly dealing with work problems at home.  If you’re an entrepreneur, then you will likely experience this feeling more often than those who work a 9-5 job.  You are probably starting to wonder if there is a way to balance your work and personal life and if it’s even possible?

The good news is that with some practice, you absolutely can balance your work and personal life and you definitely need to.  Those who are unable to separate work from home will find themselves getting more stressed out, burning out quicker, and generally, being less happy than those who find that balance. 

If you are struggling with finding your work and life balance, then you’ve come to the right place.  Try using these strategies to minimize stress, burnout, and unhappiness. 

Leave Work When You Leave Work

In today’s world, it can be difficult to find a balance between work and personal life for many reasons.  One of the main ones though, is due to technology.  With iPhones, Androids, and many other smart devices, we can constantly receive emails, phone calls, or texts related to work.  Unfortunately, if we are always connected, then we never really leave the office. 

This is easy to fix.  After you leave the office, disconnect from your work email or phone.  Then, let your coworkers know that you are unavailable for work issues after you leave the office, unless it’s an emergency.  If your boss doesn’t require you to be available at all hours, then give yourself a break. 

If you work from home, set up a time for yourself where you’re “away” from work.  Doing so will help you find a better balance in your life.

Just Say No

For those that have this option, just saying no will make a big difference in finding a balance between your work and personal life.  If you are swamped at work, so much so that you are taking things home to work on, it’s okay to say no to an extra assignment.  When you politely explain that you are currently working on all of these other projects, your boss should understand your hesitation to take on a new one.  If the new assignment can’t wait, ask if you can shuffle some other projects around instead.  The key is to explain why you can’t take on another assignment, so you don’t simply appear lazy.

Just saying no isn’t only for work.  Sometimes personal commitments get in the way too.  You don’t have to serve on three charity committees or run the PTA.  Decide what you enjoy doing the most and focus on those few items only. 

The trick to finding balance in your work and personal life is not over-scheduling yourself in either place. 

Give Yourself Personal Time

To get the most out of life, you have to allow yourself some personal time.  If you have to schedule it in, so be it.  You need that downtime to help you recharge and spend time with family or friends.  Doing so can actually help you be more productive at work, as well as help you avoid burnout. 

You don’t have to plan downtime but if you don’t, you run the risk of wasting the free time you do have.  In addition, if you do plan an exciting activity, you’ll be more motivated to plan your time wisely so you won’t have to cancel last minute. 

Finding Balance

Finding the perfect balance between your work and personal life isn’t easy.  It can be tempting to ignore the one while completely focusing on the other.  While this may seem like a good idea at the time, you’ll be more likely to face high levels of stress, burnout, and unhappiness.  Instead, work towards finding the right balance by leaving work at work, just saying no, and giving yourself the personal time you need.  Doing so will help you be happier and more successful both at home and at work.

What other tips do you have to balance your work and personal life?

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