5 tips for work-life balance success

Over the years I have worked my regular hours of 8 am to 4:30 Monday through Friday. Gone home only to put in another 4 or more hours of work. I came to the realization last year that if I kept doing that I was going to crash and burn. That’s why I decided to do a little research so I could create and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Now, you might be thinking to yourself that all you have to do is leave work at work and try to enjoy the limited time off you have. That’s what I thought too. Turns out, it’s a little more complex than that. So, after failing to create a healthy balance I asked others that seemed to have a good balance to see what they do. I read articles and even watched videos on YouTube to learn the secrets of creating the balance lacking in my life. After all that I found 5 ways that helped me create a work-life balance that has not only made me more productive at work but also happier when I’m at home.

Before we dive into my 5 tips for work-life balance let’s explore the meaning of the term. What does work-life balance mean?

What is work-life balance?

Well according to qualtrics.com

By definition, work-life balance involves the minimization of work-related stress, and the establishing of a stable and sustainable way to work while maintaining health and general well-being.

Why work-life balance is important.

now that we have a better understanding of what work-life balance means, let's look at the benefits it offers.

Less stress

Having a healthy work-life balance can relieve you of stress by letting you unwind with family, friends, or even by yourself watching your favorite show on Netflix.

Better health

According to The Happyness Index the right balance can lead to fewer health problems and according to a study done by UCL, those who work 3 hours longer than their peers have a 60% higher risk of heart-related health issues.

Less burnout

We all have overworked ourselves to the point of burnout. One of the benefits of building a positive work-life balance is that you are less likely to burnout since you are taking time away from work.

My 5 tips for work-life success

Here are Seth's 5 tips for work-life balance success.

Learn to say no

Saying no can be a challenge. But it is needed to be successful at maintaining your work-life balance. Resist the urge to take on new projects that will require you to work outside of your normal hours.

Set clear goals

Setting clear goals helps you prioritize your daily to-do list which will make it easier to accomplish your goals at work instead of taking your work home with you to finish. For example, instead of setting a goal like this "finish client report" write it down like this "Finish client report: Breakdown and Projects pages"

Results over time

Don't measure your level of success or productivity on how many hours a day you work. Look at your daily and weekly task sheet to see what you have accomplished rather than the clock to see how long it takes you.

Time management

This one is obvious but is often forgotten about when trying to better yourself. You would probably be shocked to learn how much time you lose each workday just by not being organized and prepared.

Enjoy your time away from work

The entire reason you are trying to create a positive work-life balance is that you want to spend more time enjoying life, so it's important to enjoy that time away from work or you might find yourself back to your old ways.