People are stressed out these days. They are being pushed hard at work to put in longer hours, get more done and contribute more to the bottom line. And they also want to be involved spouses, parents and, grandparents.
Many remember their parents working too hard themselves. Their parents missed out on a lot, and they want to avoid the same fate. Here are a few steps people can take to improve their work-life balance while remaining productive.
Work
Working smart is often about finding ways to be more effective, such as eliminating distractions. Closing web browsers and turning off email notifications helps keep you focused on the task at hand. While you focus, do not forget to take breaks, which help you maintain your ability to focus over longer periods of time.
Become a better delegator. People in senior positions will always have too much to do, whether it is a time-sensitive report, an inundation of “high priority” emails or a string of committee meetings. Rather than slogging through less important work, find someone you trust to take on minor responsibilities. Of course, this is a win-win as it also helps to build a strong team around you.
Life
Cultivate your passions, hobbies, and activities. Whether it is golfing, gardening, reading fiction or volunteering, make the time to develop your interests outside of the office. We are more than what we do at work, so make sure that your personal life is robust and active.
Being connected 24/7 does not help anyone’s work-life balance either. Apps, games, social media, emails – while these tools can help our lives, they can also be dangerously counterproductive and upset the balance we need to be happy and healthy. So, put down your phone and unplug your devices at pre-determined times, and stick to that schedule. Turning off all screens an hour or two before bed is a great way to start, and has the additional benefit that it may improve your sleep.
Balance
At the end of the day, maybe it’s time to take it easy on yourself, say “no” now and then and focus on your health. After all, that’s the most important commodity that you have.
While setting lower expectations might not sound like healthy personal development, chronic stress lowers your immune system’s powers and leads to muscle tension and increased blood pressure. And these can lead to heart attacks, kidney disease, cancer and other serious illnesses.
Make these changes and you may end up getting more done and living a more fulfilled life. The choice is yours.