Work-Life Balance

According to Maris Sanfilippo’s article, How to Improve Work-Life Balance Today, “work-life balance is the state of equilibrium where a person equally prioritizes the demands of one’s career with the demands of one’s personal life”.  It sounds simple, doesn’t it?  Yet so many of us allow work to take precedence over everything else.

It is critical though that we figure out a way to harmoniously balance work and life.  When we rush to try to “get it all done” at work and home, we often cause our stress levels to spike which can zap our concentration, make us irritable or depressed, cause our productivity to plummet, and even weaken our immune systems.  So, what can we do to achieve a better balance?

First it is important to remember that work-life balance is less about dividing the hours in your day evenly between work and personal life.  Instead, it’s about having the flexibility to get things done in your professional life while still having time and energy to enjoy things in your personal life.  Next you need to remember that it is not a one-time fix but rather something that we must continuously engage in as our circumstances and priorities evolve.

There are several things a person can do to help loosen the grip on stress and win back the balance in our lives.  At work, set manageable goals each day, be efficient with your time, take small breaks throughout the day, tune into your favorite music, communicate effectively, take time off, and remember to all yourself to be human and just do the best you can.  At home, unplug, divide and conquer, don’t over commit, get support, stay active, treat your body right, and get help if you need it.

Remember, work-life balance is not an impossible feat and will look differently for everyone.  The most important thing though is to find what works for you to help you achieve that balance.