Struggling with Your Work-Life Balance? Here’s How to Improve it

The work-life balance is dead or so does a pessimistic Bloomberg article say. Executives are working longer hours than the standard work week and millennials are having to struggle with a bigger number of responsibilities than ever before. In fact, 62 percent of millennials are managers, which leaves very little time for leisure activities.

While people are becoming more and more focused on their career, the work-life balance is still an essential for feeling happy and fulfilled.

Whether you’re a writer, a scientist or a CEO, you have to consciously work towards establishing and maintaining the work-life balance. The good news is that the goal is accomplishable, even for the busiest of professionals.

Schedule it

Right from the start, you’ll simply have no time for downtime. This is why Forbes suggests scheduling it.

Changing habits can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’re already set in your routine and you don’t like modifications. Thus, consider scheduling a few “me hours” every now and then until you get in the habit of enjoying those.

Exercise is very important for staying healthy and feeling happy. You can easily find 30 minutes for exercise three times per week if you play around a bit with your schedule. The same applies to having a date night with your significant other and getting reacquainted with a favorite hobby.

Prioritize it

If that’s not sufficient to introduce change, you may want to think through your priorities. Analyze every single thing that you keep yourself occupied with during a regular day. By taking a conscious look at your professional and other responsibilities, you may find out that some of them aren’t as crucial as enjoying your personal life every now and then.

What’s most important in your life right now? Is it your career? Is it your family? Do you have a dream project that you want to bring to reality?

Understanding what’s the most important aspect of your life will help you get rid of clutter and meaningless activities. You’ll be much more focused on the things that you want to accomplish and you’ll also find some time for leisure activities.

Very often, we keep ourselves busy for the sake of being busy. We’re used to activity and boredom scares us. This is one of the reasons why so many people don’t have a good work-life balance. Once the fear of boredom is overcome, however, most individuals will find out that downtime is actually something good and that it’s conductive of productivity.

Stop Wasting Time at Work and Leave the Office on Time

Statistics suggest that many people are dedicating more than 40 hours per week to work. Excessive business isn’t always the cause of this phenomenon. Getting distracted during the workday reduces productivity, which leads to spending more time in the office.

Work on improving your time management skills. Get rid of distractions like your phone, social media and websites that aren’t related to work. The sooner you stop paying attention to those, the faster you’ll find yourself capable of completing work.

Once you increase your productivity, you should also get in the habit of leaving the office on time.

Make the conscious effort to get home from work at the exact same time every given day. You’re being paid to do a certain job. The rest of your time should be dedicated to your family or to personal projects.

Read 6 Warning Signs You’re About to Burn Out at Work

Start Journaling

You can learn a lot about yourself by starting a journal. No, this isn’t some new age nonsense that millennials believe in. journaling is a powerful tool for figuring out what’s going on in your life and how you can lead a more meaningful existence.

Write about every single thing you do during the day, the things that you’d like to do but you don’t have time for and the things that you’re doing but don’t feel like.

Taking a look at your journal can help you reveal patterns of wasted time or too much time dedicated to meaningless activities. You’ll become much more aware of your actions and the effect they have on your productivity and your life.

Learn to Say “No”

Very often, people find themselves incredibly busy because they don’t know how to say no and keep the number of tasks they’re responsible for down to a reasonable number.

Saying no is difficult because you may feel like you’re rejecting people. This isn’t really the case. You’re valuing your time and you’re still doing a good job. If people can’t manage on their own, they’ll have to do a bit of a productivity boost themselves.

There are ways to reject additional work without sounding confrontational. Stick to your guns and remember that you can’t please everyone, especially at the expense of your own leisure time. There’s no need to go to last-minute meetings or to spend sleepless nights completing a project that isn’t yours. Such behavior will only lead to a vicious cycle in the future.

Read 8 Everyday Activities That Are Not Healthy For The Brain

Improving the work-life balance necessitates conscious effort on your behalf. You have to change your thinking before you change the things that you do. A mentality that’s focused on doing a good job and still enjoying your personal time requires a bit of effort. Let this change happen. It will take some time and it will make you feel uncomfortable in the very beginning. Still, the results will justify the work you’ve done on making it happen.

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply



Up Next

6 Therapeutic Japanese Words With Deep Meaning

Japanese Words With Deep Meanings That Bring Peace of Mind

Japan has figured out how to bring us tranquility. This country is full of therapeutic Japanese words with deep meanings that will make your soul feel at peace.

Living in a world that moves at the speed of light, it is so easy to get caught up in the chaos. Stress seems to be on every street corner and finding peace and serenity seems to be nothing more than a pipe dream.

These Japanese phrases with deep meaning gently remind us all to just slow down, take a deep breath, and find peace in the present moment. Each word carries its weight when it comes to finding harmony within oneself and achieving an unmatched sense of peace.

So let’s dive into six therapeutic Japanese words with deep meanings that can give you instant tranquility in this hectic world we live in!



Up Next

Plant Parenthood 101: How Caring For Plants Can Nourish Your Mental Health 

Ways Plant Parenthood Can Boost Your Mental Health

Have you ever wondered why so many people are embracing plant parenthood? It seems like everywhere you turn, there’s someone proudly displaying their thriving indoor jungle or posting pictures of their leafy companions on social media. 

But this trend is more than just a passing fad; it’s a movement that promotes not only the well-being of plants but also the mental health of humans. 

Let us explore the concept of plant parenthood, why caring for plants is important for both plants and humans, and learn how do plants help mental health.

What is Plant Parenthood?

Plant parenthood is the act of nurturing and caring for houseplants as if they were our o



Up Next

30+ Truths About Diet Culture, Eating Disorders, And The Process of Healing

Honest Truths About Diet Culture And Eating Disorders

Diet culture impacts so many people all over the world, and unfortunately, much of it’s impact is negative and harmful. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, then you’ve come to the right place. These truths about diet culture will help you understand it’s repercussions, and motivate you to live your life in a much healthier way.

If you are struggling with food or an eating disorder, these helpful points may offer you the nudge you need to change your relationship with food.

Related: Diving into Diet Culture Definition: 5 Startli



Up Next

Are You ‘Manic Cleaning’ Or Just Tidying Up? 5 Signs To Look For

Manic Cleaning Episodes: Signs To Look For

Have you ever been tidying your house and thought, “Am I manic cleaning?” Many people have been misusing this term so much that it’s become a viral trend.

But before we get into what is manic cleaning, let’s learn about mania. According to Dr. Aron Tendler, a psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer, “mania” usually refers to bipolar disorder which causes unpredictable shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. Real mania lasts for seven days or more and affects behavior as well as mood and cognition.

And What Is Manic Cleaning Episode?



Up Next

Why The Best Time To Have Coffee Isn’t Right When You Wake Up!

Best Time To Have Coffee: Reasons It's Not Early Morning

Are you part of the club that can’t even think about starting their day without the warm embrace of a good ole cuppa? You might want to rethink your morning ritual because it turns out the best time to have coffee in the morning is not when you’re up on an empty stomach.

Although chugging down a steaming cup of coffee sounds like the perfect way to kickstart the day, there is growing evidence that suggests why you shouldn’t drink coffee first thing in the morning and wait a little longer before taking your first sip. 

So, let’s examine what’s the best time to drink coffee in the morning and why you should refrain from an early morning brew.

So, what is the best time to have coffee in the morni



Up Next

Movies To Inspire Creativity: 10 Must-Watch Films For Artists

Movies To Inspire Creativity In You: Creative Movies

Creativity is a tricky thing, striking seemingly when it wants and leaving you high and dry when you need it most. But there are certain movies to inspire creativity and have the power to get your creative juices flowing.

There’s just something about the ability of a good film to transport us into another dimension that sparks an idea or two.

If you’ve been feeling uninspired lately, try watching one — or all — of these 10 creative movies that are perfect for anyone looking to ignite their creativity again.



Up Next

The Different Types Of Sleeping Positions And Their Impact On Your Health

Sleeping Types of Sleeping Positions and Their Benefits

Did you know that we spend about one-third of our life sleeping or at least trying to fall asleep? Most of us love to sleep. It helps us rest, reset and rejuvenate. But all of us have our own favorite sleeping positions and different types of sleeping position can offer different benefits. 

Well, there are mainly three types of sleeping positions – back, side, and stomach. While the position may vary a bit depending on the sleeper, these three positions are among the most popular. But which one is the perfect posture to sleep? And how does sleeping position affect health?

That’s what we are here to find out today. Whether you sleep on your side, back or stomach, it is essential to know about the different types of sleeping position and how it can affect our health so that you can have comfortable and uninterrupted sl