Everyone wants work-life balance but it just seems to be one of those mythical and all-elusive lifestyles that nobody can’t seem to achieve.
Especially in this day and age, there are times when work takes up too much of our time and energy to the detriment of our relationships and well-being.
Then there are times when our personal life simply has to take pole position and our capacity to earn a living suffers.
Whichever situation you swing to, you know full well the struggles each one brings.
In 2018, 66 per cent of American employees claimed that they don’t have work-life balance, which is a very worrying study.
Luckily, there are ways to change this situation so we can have the work-life balance we’ve been looking for, or at least improve our current situation.
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Find a job you’re passionate about.
And you will never work a single day in your life. This rings true on so many levels.
Imagine doing work that’s as enjoyable as a hobby for you. You will always be happy to show up to work, won’t you?
If you love what you do, then it will feel less exhausting and more satisfying. Your mental health will improve and you will no longer dread going to work.
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Be organized.
It’s so easy to get lost in all things we have to do during the day. From work commitments to family priorities, it seems like the work never ends.
However, even planning out your days using the time blocking method is enough to make your life easier and help you have the work-life balance you deserve.
Similar to a budget planner, which tells you where your money comes from and where it goes, time blocking is the method of specifically scheduling out your tasks so you can be more productive and hopefully free up more time for yourself and your family.
Kevin Kruse explains more about time blocking in this post.
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Make time for self-care.
“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brown
Even a well-oiled machine breaks down every now and then, especially when it’s overused and not regularly maintained.
Humans are no different and are perhaps more susceptible to breaking down than machines. Yet, we disregard this fact and keep working anyway. We fail to realize that for us to keep going and keep producing high-quality output, we need to keep filling up on fuel as well.
And that fuel is self-care.
Self-care is an essential part of the work-life balance we all crave, yet it is often regarded as merely an afterthought.
Fortunately, there are many simple ways you can practice self-care such as getting enough sleep, exercising and eating well.
You can also incorporate enjoyable activities into your self-care routine such as doing satisfying hobbies or going out with your family and friends.
Whatever helps you replenish will also help you function better – at work and at home.
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Prioritize your relationships.
When you’re really faced with a choice, always prioritize your friends and family.
Remember that work is replaceable but never your relationships. Even if you lose your job, your friends and family are the ones who will support you through the hard times.
In our household, I always block out time for my family every single day. Regardless of how much work I have to do, I always work around my family commitments.
I love my job. But nothing replaces my love for my family and they will always come first.
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Take a break from work.
If work’s really starting to get to you, remember that it’s not a sin to unplug and take a break from work.
In fact, to fully thrive as a working individual, it is recommended that you disconnect from work every now and then.
It’s all about work-life balance, not work-work balance.
If you’re a workaholic and simply can’t seem to take some time off, at least try to delegate some of your work to other people so you can have some time to relax.
Eventually, you’re going to have to trust others to do the work just as well as you do and hopefully start easing off from there.
The idea is to work to live and not the other way around. Otherwise, how miserable would life be?
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Accept that work-life balance will not always be balanced.
We’ve all heard the saying that “nobody’s perfect”. I must also add that there’s no such thing as a perfect life.
Life tends to throw curveballs in our direction especially when we least expect it.
And that’s okay.
All you have to do is drop the perfectionist attitude and sit in with the discomfort, as hard as it is.
Whether you’re experiencing work-related issues or a demanding personal life, know that you’re not alone.
Final thoughts
We all strive to find work-life balance in our lives. Truth is, it doesn’t always go the way we want it to. And there’s no guarantee that it will.
The least we can do is just accept.
Accept that it will not always be perfect and we just have to try our best, whatever situation we face.
And if you’re currently living the blissful work-life balance we all dream of, then hats off to you.
Corinne Rootsey from my jEARNey
My mission is to help people manage their personal finances better, improve their wellness and learn useful tips about blogging.
I live in Australia with my dear husband and our chocolate Labrador, Molly. In my spare time, I like to read, watch tennis, go to the beach and bake.