Finding the right work/life balance isn’t always easy
IN the modern world, where life can get pretty hectic, finding the right balance is important when managing the pressures of work and home life.
Increasingly people are having to manage busy workloads alongside various family, social and voluntary commitments. It’s little surprise that at times it can feel like a struggle.
Recent research suggests that a third of people are unhappy about the amount of time they devote to work and 40% of people are neglecting other important aspects of their lives because of their work commitments.
When work pressures start to impinge on our personal lives this can cause all sorts of issues.
We might start to feel unhappy or stressed, experience more disagreements in our relationships or feel resentful that we don’t have the time to pursue our likes and interests.
A poor work/life balance makes us more vulnerable to mental health problems too. Similarly, when increasing demands in our personal lives tip the balance the other way, this can affect our ability to do our jobs well, potentially putting our professional development at risk.
To stay resilient when juggling different commitments and responsibilities, it’s important we take the time to reflect on how we manage our personal and
Tprofessional lives and take steps to redress the balance when it gets out of kilter. Here are three tips to help you find the right balance.
PRIORITISE. It sounds obvious, but prioritising the competing demands on our time is essential to achieving work/life balance. Make some time to reflect on your current commitments. There will be some that are essential and others that are less important. Is there anything you could forego altogether for the sake of a healthier balance?
HAVE tech-free time at home. Computers, laptops and smartphones all help to make our lives easier but they shouldn’t rule us. The temptation to check workrelated emails when you’re “off duty” or to check social media too often, draws us away from being present to what is meaningful to us.
Have set periods when technology is completely off limits, for example during family mealtimes, so you can appreciate being in the moment.
SAY no when you need to.
It’s ok to respectfully say no to people who ask you to give your time. This is especially important if you are someone who finds saying no hard.
When you stop doing things out of guilt, you’ll find you have more time to focus on the things that make you happy.
Dr Ellie Milby is a counselling psychologist