Outside of our day-to-day work duties, we wear many hats. We are parents, children, siblings,
friends, spouses, employees and valued members of our community. All of these roles require different responsibilities that demand our time. Work-life balance occurs when you feel a sense of well-being because you are able to manage your duties at home, in the office and in your community. Feeling overworked and pulled in every direction is hardly a new experience for most of us, but there are things that you can do to relieve some of the stress in your life, so that you can enjoy career achievements, as well as time with your family and friends. Here are some tips:
Establish boundaries: Ensure you keep all the stresses of work in the office, so once you are home; you can focus on those who need you most. Some small things you can start on include: turning your smartphone off at the dinner table, leaving your mobile at home during family vacations and closing your laptop and leaving it at the office when the workday is done.
Create a schedule: Set up your day planner to allow for work hours and include time for family, friends and an exercise routine. Also ensure to take an hour for lunch, whether you use that time to eat, go for a walk, or hang out with fellow colleagues.
Delegate: It is always hard to say no, especially to friends, family and especially your supervisor. Still, whether it is a colleague suggesting you help out with a special project or one of your friends asking for a hand in managing the soccer team you play in, it is okay to turn these opportunities down once in a while.
Simplify: Revisit your work and non-work processes and ditch unnecessary or redundant ones. Track what you do and how you do it for a week and decide what is absolutely necessary, what isn’t and what you enjoy.
An independent consulting agency that focuses on employee, team and organizational development, Sandra Summerhayes & Associates designs and delivers training sessions and seminars for various organizations throughout Ontario. For more information, log onto www.sandrasummerhayes.com.