time per day, week, or month do you want to allocate to this goal? Establishing a goal is the first step.
2. Write It Down
When it comes to work-life balance, I find that just saying it or filing it away in a mental cloud is not enough.
There is something powerful about writing things down.
If you’re not the journaling type, you can use the Notes function on your smart device. One of my favorite methods is using a whiteboard.
Regardless of your process, record your goals. This gives you a visual reminder that you can track. It also allows you to recalibrate your goals if you find that they were too lofty or unrealistic.
3. Set Boundaries
I have a friend who consistently works almost 80 hours a week. Between sleeping, eating, and life’s other necessities, by his own admission, it doesn’t leave him with much time for anything else. When I asked “why?”, he admitted that he didn’t really know how to say “no” to his employer.
This leads to an important discussion about boundaries. Whether it is professional, familial, or friendly relationships, boundaries are critical to self-care.
What your boundaries look like is often determined by the nature of your relationships—just don’t forget that managing your energy is just as important as managing your time.
Make sure that you are taking the time to do things that you enjoy, including meditation, reading, exercising, and traveling.
Making time for yourself will require you to set and maintain healthy boundaries. Remember, people who respect and love you will understand.
Why Work-Life Balance Really Matters
There is a strong likelihood that when things are amiss, we are not producing our best work and we are making unnecessary mistakes.
No matter how much you may want or need to do something, if you don’t take the time to evaluate and re-energize, you will eventually experience some form of burnout.
The most effective way to balance work and life is to be aware of how you feel and why.
If you feel as if you are in a perpetual tug-of-war with yourself, then it is time to step back and reprioritize.
Just as social media has immortalized the phrase, “Let’s work;” it is equally important that we celebrate, “Let’s rest.”
Tyra Seldon, Ph.D. is a former English professor turned writer, editor and small business owner. Passionate about the English language and the craft of storytelling, she launched Seldon Writing Group, LLC in 2011. Dr. Seldon has worked with education tech companies, celebrities, aspiring writers, entrepreneurs, media outlets, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies to develop their written content. When she’s not writing, she’s traveling the world, one continent at a time. She can be reached at [email protected]
FB: @seldonwriting
IG: @tyraseldon