How to Find a Good Work-Life Balance
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The document outlines strategies for achieving a good work-life balance, focusing on time management, balancing work with leisure, and implementing techniques to maintain that balance. Key tips include creating a task list, establishing routines, using the Pomodoro technique, and allowing time for leisure and reflection. It emphasizes the importance of flexibility, setting boundaries, and prioritizing personal well-being to enhance productivity and overall happiness.
How to Find a Good Work-Life Balance
- 2. How to Find a Good Work-Life Balance By Lorraine Reguly, Freelancer for Hire via Wording Well
- 3. How to Find a Good Work-Life Balance
- 4. How to Find a Good Work-Life Balance Part 1: Time Management and Scheduling Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure Part 3: How to Implement Techniques and Achieve Balance Part 4: What to Do Once You Have Found Your Balance (and What to Do if You Get Stuck Again)
- 5. Part 1: Time Management and Scheduling Become MORE Productive! 1. Create a list of tasks. Prioritize the tasks with numbers. 2. Estimate how long it will take to complete each task. 3. Check to see how long it ACTUALLY TOOK you to complete each task. 4. You will become better at planning and scheduling the amount of time for each task!
- 6. Part 1: Time Management and Scheduling Create a Schedule 1. Using 30-60 minute increments, make a schedule. 2. Make a weekly schedule instead of a daily schedule. 3. Include ALL activities in it! 4. SWISS CHEESE big tasks. (Devote small chunks of time to a big task. By doing this, your big task will seem smaller and more manageable. You will be less stressed and more likely to make progress! 5. Leave room for OPEN TIME. 6. Be realistic! 7. Follow it as closely as you can.
- 7. Activity Using the planner provided, jot down a few tasks and activities you do EACH WEEK. To read the full post AND get your FREE WORKBOOK/PLANNER, CLICK HERE.
- 8. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 1. Plan for obstacles. Use countermeasures to help you remember what to do. For example, when you are working on a task and you find yourself wanting to check your email or go on Facebook, then take a break!
- 9. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 2. Designate a work space. Only work in your work space. Eat at your table, sleep in your bed, work productively in your work space.
- 10. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 3. Establish routines. For example, each day, when I get up, I immediately go to the washroom. Then I drink a glass of water and take my medication and vitamins. While the water for my tea is boiling (3 minutes in the microwave), I make my bed. I then have my tea with my cigarette while reviewing my positive affirmations and list of tasks for the day. Then, depending on what day it is, I will either have a shower right away and get dressed, or, if it’s a “work-out” day, I will wait to have a shower until after I’m done working out. The point is, I have established a morning routine, and it jump-starts me for the day!
- 11. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 4. Use the Pomodoro technique when working. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Take a 5-minute break. During your break, you can stretch, walk around, have some water, or meditate. Then return to your work and set the timer again for 25 minutes. Then take another 5-minute break. Following this, set your timer for 45 minutes. Then take a 15- minute break. Repeat this process until it is time to stop working.
- 12. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 5. Incorporate leisure and “down time” into EACH DAY, and remember to be social! Take time to do things you WANT to do. This might include watching something (TV, YouTube videos, a movie, etc.), playing a game with your family or friends, going for coffee, talking on the phone, doing a hobby (such as knitting, drawing, painting, etc.), and/or attending a special event.
- 13. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 6. Remember to exercise AND pamper yourself. Exercise does not have to be a chore. You can put on a song and dance to it! Pamper yourself by doing something special JUST FOR YOU. Whether this is taking a bubble bath, going for a sauna, doing your nails, getting a pedicure, or reading a book, the point is to do something SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU.
- 14. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 7. Allow yourself flexibility. Stop being available to everyone 24/7. Turn off your phone (or turn down your notification sound). The world will not end if you have to make someone wait 24 hours for your attention/response!
- 15. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 8. When it’s time to work, work. When it’s time to play, play. Use techniques to transition yourself. For example, dress a certain way for “the office.” Walk to work (even if you work at home, you can go for a walk, and use this time to get into “work mode.” Transitioning yourself means changing your mindset from one mode to the other. To do this, take deep breaths, meditate for a few minutes, and focus on what is next on your list for the day. You can also do a crossword puzzle, or listen to some music before beginning the evening’s routine.
- 16. Part 2: Balancing Work with Leisure 9. Take days off. Treat your business like a job. Allow yourself to relax and NOT think about work pressures and stresses for at least TWO days a week. Also, take vacation days! Plan for a two-week holiday at least once a year.
- 17. Part 3: How to Implement Techniques and Achieve Balance 1. Set your priorities. Concentrate on one thing at a time. Respect your private time. Reward your progress. Similarly, if you experience a failure, create punishments for yourself. This will help reinforce positive behaviours. It provides you with motivation and an incentive to achieve your goals!
- 18. 2. Do weekly and monthly reflections. Look at whether or not you are attaining your goals. If you aren’t, revise your schedule and try again. If you have met your goals easily, create more lofty goals. Continue to push yourself until you can achieve a balance!
- 19. Activity – Using the workbook/planner provided, fill in your thoughts after one week and then again after one month, in the sections provided. To read the full post AND get your FREE WORKBOOK/PLANNER, CLICK HERE.
- 20. 3. Don’t expect perfection from yourself. Forgive yourself when you slip up. Learn from your mistakes. Similarly, if you find that you are at peace, note what you did to feel that way, then try to replicate it.
- 21. 4. Ask for support and outsource work. Delegate tasks. Automate social media. Use tools to help you.
- 22. 5. Hire a personal coach. A personal coach can assess your current work-life balance, and can tell you what you can do to achieve optimal balance.
- 23. 6. Make sure you exercise. Exercise relieves stress, clears your mind, and ultimately makes you more productive. Don't skip it. You'll find that you greet work, family, and personal commitments with renewed vigor.
- 24. 7. Set boundaries and eliminate distractions. Turn off your cell phone. Focus on your activity at hand. Ask friends and family not to interrupt your work time unless it's an emergency. Understand what REALLY matters! Learn to say “NO.” Learn to say, “I’m sorry, but I can’t chat right now. I’m working.” Don’t mix work with play.
- 25. 8. Work smarter, not harder. Set SMART goals. S – specific and significant M - measurable, meaningful, and motivational A - agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, and action- oriented R - realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, and results-oriented T - time-based, time-bound, timely, tangible, and trackable
- 26. Activity – Using the workbook/planner provided, write out your big goals for the month. Also write out your goals for the week. To read the full post AND get your FREE WORKBOOK/PLANNER, CLICK HERE.
- 27. 9. Leave work at work. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time.
- 28. 10.Pace yourself. Make lists. Be realistic about what you can achieve in a given time frame.
- 29. 11. Set your own rules and deadlines whenever and wherever you can. Regardless of the type of job that you do, you have to realize that you are in control of certain areas of your life. For example, by controlling when you wake up, such as waking up an hour earlier, you can get in that extra "writing time." You will then be more productive and reach your goals faster!
- 30. 12.Maximize your “waiting” time. Read on the bus. Listen to podcasts while working out or cooking. Organize your pictures while waiting in the doctor’s office.
- 31. 13.Drop activities that sap your time or energy – for example, get off of social media, and check your email once or twice a day at specific times ONLY.
- 32. 14.Use positive self-talk, affirmations, and visualization. Be positive, passionate, and enthusiastic. Attitude is everything!
- 33. 15.Don’t measure success based on how much you earn. Success means different things to everyone. It is NOT always about your earnings! Measure your success by how far you have come in your own journey, the improvements you've made in your personal development, and how happy you are in your daily life. Your overall life happiness is what matters!
- 34. 16. Invest and re-invest. Investing in yourself and your business allows your business to grow. Use tools to help you. Automate your social media promotions. Hire a virtual assistant. Outsource tasks. (Yes, I know I mentioned this already! But it's worth repeating!) Paying for certain tools to do things that you could do (but don't have the time to) is a good investment of your money. It will free your time up to earn more!
- 35. 17. Remember that balance is essential to good health! If you do not have a balance in your life, your health will suffer. You will also begin to resent job, and perhaps you will resent others, too. By striking a good work-life balance, you will be a much happier person!
- 36. Activity – Using the workbook/planner provided, create a sample schedule. Be sure to include all of your activities (both work-related and personal ones) in it! To read the full post AND get your FREE WORKBOOK/PLANNER, CLICK HERE.
- 37. Part 4: What to Do Once You Have Found Your Balance (and What to Do if You Get Stuck Again) It might take you a while to find the balance you desire, but with a bit of effort, I am confident you will find it. Once you have found your balance, try to maintain it. When you get stuck again, and start feeling overwhelmed, review these tips. Remind yourself that you’re human. Then re-do the activities again.
- 38. Remember, we are human. Life will get in the way of our plans. Emergencies will arise. We have to learn to adapt. We have to learn to be flexible. We have to persevere. There will be tough times ahead, but enjoyable ones, too!
- 39. VISIT Wording Well for more INFO! To read the full post AND get your FREE WORKBOOK/PLANNER, CLICK HERE. WordingWell.com
- 40. By Lorraine Reguly, entrepreneur and freelancer for hire. CLICK > http://wordingwell.com/services/