Six Secrets to Achieving Work-Life Balance

Often, we let work take precedence over everything else in our lives. Our professional desires can make us ignore other aspects of our well-being. Creating work-life balance is critical to improving physical, emotional, and mental well-being while helping you grow professionally. 

Learning to balance your professional and personal life can be challenging, but it's necessary. Here are some tips to improve your work-life balance today:

Pair work with other activities

When possible, plan ahead to combine work with other activities. Do you have back-to-back virtual meetings? Long call? Try taking them while you go for a long walk. Do you have a 15-minute break? Use that time to catch up with a friend on the phone. 

Block out your time

Block out your time into different phases. Have a time where you check your emails and messages, a time when you do deep work, or schedule meetings. Anchor these tasks around the times you are personally more productive.

Use technology to unplug

Technology can be a great tool when wanting to unplug from work. You can use an app to block websites and social media during the day and block work tools after hours. If possible, keep your personal phone logged out of work emails and messaging apps. If you can, restrict work to one device, or try to keep one work-free device so you can disconnect completely.

Practice mindfulness

Dedicate a few chunks of time each week to practice mindfulness techniques, like meditation or yoga, to become more in-tune with yourself and your surroundings. Paying attention to these feelings helps recognize when you are on the verge of burnout or need a career change. 

Say no

It's okay to say no. Sometimes we forget that. Evaluate priorities at work and home and delegate activities you don't enjoy or don't have time for anymore. If you feel overwhelmed, share your concerns and possible solutions with your family and employers. 

Develop a support system

Develop a support system at home and at work. At home, enlist trusted friends and loved ones to pitch in with child care or household responsibilities when you need to work late. At work, develop a system where people can cover for you if conflicts arise.