Work-Life Balance Tips For Professionals
By: Tamara Urošević
Tags: Busy Life, Stress Management, Time Management, Organization, Work Life Balance

Work-Life Balance?

I really enjoy spending quality time with my people. It’s called quality time for a reason: deep conversations, new adventures, and loyal friendships all make the world go round.

Lately, however, conversations bleed together. It’s the same chat every time about work and endless daily obligations.

“I love my job, and I have wonderful children and a partner who supports me. But I feel like I’m running out of time and energy. It seems like the day is always too short to do it all, let alone actually find time for myself.”

Are you one of those friends? Be honest.

I know your pain.

It may seem impossible to achieve a balance between your work life and your private life. Nowadays, there are almost too many ways to stay connected. We’re overwhelmed with information, obligations, and constant bustle.

Every cloud has a silver lining. Really.

As a People & Operations Manager at Spartans, I foster a culture of work-life balance. Here are some practical tips that can help you get there, too.

From 1986 to 1996, “work-life balance” was mentioned in the media only 32 times, while in 2007 it was mentioned as many as 1674 times. Today, that number is even 5 times larger.

What changed? Why is this topic so relevant nowadays? Let’s define things a little better.

Work-life balance is about managing our priorities between personal and professional activities.

Many of us are constantly “juggling” private and business obligations. Achieving balance seems like an impossible mission, especially when you’re eager and want to give it your all. But when you strain yourself professionally, you forget about your own needs.

If you want to maintain decent physical, mental, and emotional well-being, as well as “business” health — you have to find harmony.

You need to consider everything that competes for your time, and decide what to keep and what to discard. It’s all a matter of practice.

Here you can find 10 practical tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance:

Learn to let it go

The first step is to accept that your job will never be “finished.” You shouldn’t extend your workday when you feel that you have no more energy to work. Set some limits. It’ll still be there tomorrow.

2. Work from home

If you’re able, take some time to try working remotely. Working from home can free you up for a few hours, especially if you were commuting before. You’ll also be able to focus on work in the long run.

3. Use technology to your advantage

If your version of a “break” is to scroll through social media, you’re probably eating up a whole lot of your free time. Check your online activity stats, and set limits on your favorite platforms. Try using the Tomato method.

4. Overcome guilt

Superman is just a fictional character. Real people can’t dedicate themselves 100% to everything they do. Don’t feel guilty if you miss a party, a game, or hanging out with friends. Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.

5. Pay attention to your daily rhythm

Consider when you have the most energy during the day, and then use that time to focus on the most difficult tasks. If you’re a morning person, do your work in the morning. You’ll get your work done faster, and you can have more free time later.

6. Prioritize tasks

It feels good to check certain things off your to-do list, but you can be more intentional than that. Just because something is urgent doesn’t mean it’s important. And just because something is important doesn’t mean it’s urgent.

It’s too easy to replace important time alone or with family with urgent business deadlines. This tool can help you prioritize tasks by urgency and importance.

Make your workday as productive as possible. Use time management strategies, analyze your to-do list, and eliminate non-essential tasks.

7. Find a job you love

Business isn’t just a way to make money. You can find emotional benefits too. Ask yourself this question: What kind of job would you do for free? Make an effort to find what you really love and what you’re good at. If you succeed, you won’t work a day in your life.

8. Set boundaries and working hours

Set boundaries to avoid overtime. When you leave the office, stop thinking about upcoming projects and emails. Separate your business with a private PC or phone, or use separate search engines, email addresses, filters. Don’t check your mail and phone every hour — set aside time during the day, and review them in “blocks” so you don’t get distracted.

9. Take a break

Take time to relax and focus on your personal life. Whether it’s a day or a two-week trip, use that time to “recharge your batteries” and get completely out of work. Don’t think about all the stress you’re leaving behind — you’re leaving it behind for a reason. You deserve a break.

10. Be objective

At the end of the working day, do some self-analysis. Ask yourself what worked for you and what didn’t, and how you can solve any problems. If you need help or some business advice, remember that you have a valuable resource right in front of you: your colleagues.

Remember, it is possible to achieve a reasonable work-life balance. But you have to want to do it! You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish if you just put in the work. You’re not alone, and there are so many different ways to better streamline your life.

All you have to do is:

Organize your daily routine

Start using some of the ten tips to free up your time

Stick to the plan

Remember that only you can determine what lifestyle suits you the best

Once you start making small changes, you’ll see how easy it is to achieve a better work-life balance.

We can do anything once we stop trying to do everything.

I wish you harmony and success!