Five ways to create work-life balance

A work-life balance is not something you find but something you create! 

We all strive for that perfect work-life balance that allows us to be on our A-game at work while, at the same time, optimizing our free time so that we are refreshed and relaxed. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for health and relationships, but it can also improve your productivity and performance.  

You will need to work out if your work-life balance is not working. Consider these 5 points to see if you need to change: 

1. Pause 
2. Pay attention to your feelings.  
3. Reprioritize.  
4. Consider your alternatives.  
5. Make changes. 

You will then understand that there is no ‘perfect’ work-life balance. Don’t strive for the perfect schedule; aim for a realistic one. Some days, you might focus more on work, while other days, you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. 

Finding a job you love is also a great way to help with your work-life balance, as you want to aim for a job that doesn’t make you regret waking up in the morning. Your overall physical, emotional and mental health should be your primary concern.  

Allowing yourself to establish boundaries for you and your colleagues will help to avoid burnout. To help with this, consider having a separate computer or phone for work, so you can shut it off when you clock out. If that isn’t possible, use different browsers, emails or filters for your work and personal platforms. This will allow you to be able to differentiate between being at work and home. 

Don’t forget to unplug. Cutting ties with the outside world for a while allows us to recover from weekly stress and provides us space for other thoughts and ideas to emerge. Unplugging can mean something simple like practicing transit meditation on your daily commute instead of checking work emails.  

Adding exercise and meditation is also a great way to help with producing a work-life balance. Exercise helps with reducing stress, increasing endurance, and efficiency. These benefits not only improve physical health but also improve mental health. With a better sense of well-being, those who exercise regularly are better able to cope with the daily demands of life. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are better able to compartmentalize different aspects of their life, allowing them to be present in the current. This means higher productivity at work, better focus during family time and an overall increase in work-life balance. 

From an organization's point of view, allowing your employees to have a work-life balance can mean:  

1. Fewer Health Problems 
2. More Engagement 
3. Fewer 'Burnouts' 
4. More Mindfulness 

This will mean you will need to: 

1. Encourage your employees to take time off.  
2. Implement Short Breaks Throughout The Day 
3. Offer flexible timings or/and remote working.
4. Increase support for parents