6 ways for you to achieve work-life integration

It’s time to give up on the idea of achieving work-life balance. You might want to try work-life integration instead.

For more of us, work-life balance — the idea that you leave work at work and home at home — is a myth, largely because of technology that always keeps us connected.

We need to better integrate our jobs and lives, creating boundaries when necessary, says Kenny Tello, manager of physician wellness and resilience with Orlando Health. Here are six tips to resetting your world:

1. Turn off email notifications. You read that right. Completely shut off all the notifications on your phone. Instead, check your email by going directly to the application. If you want to be more rigid, only check your email at certain times of the day.

2. Prioritize projects and tasks.

Because so many of us don’t really know how to prioritize, we tackle whatever project lands in our laptop first. But if you break complicated projects down into smaller chunks, then work on them one at a time, they might not seem so overwhelming to complete.

3. Return calls while driving. Familiarize yourself with the functions on your phone and your vehicle, and take full advantage of those technologies. Use the dictation function, for example, to send emails or texts when you find yourself stuck in traffic.

4. Build in an at-home work period.

When you are at home and your kids are doing homework, give yourself permission for 30 minutes to reply to emails. That way, they won’t pile up and responding doesn’t intrude on quality time with family. Just don’t let 30 minutes become two hours. These days, large chunks of uninterrupted time are unlikely.

5. Decrease distractions.

Distractions exist everywhere — at home, at work, at the grocery store and in the car. Learn your distractions and patterns. Adjust where you can.

6. Be intentional. You want people to respect your boundaries, so you must also respect theirs. Follow the rules you set. Create routines that create momentum. What you’re trying to do is lose a nagging sense that you are always behind. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s a lot like creating an exercise regimen — and then following it.