4 Proven Tactics to Improve Work-Life Balance

4 Proven Tactics to Improve Work-Life Balance

By Markus Bohi

?Work-life balance is not just a buzzword — it's about taking control of our own happiness and well-being. But let’s be honest. Work-life balance is tough. You can’t be in two places at once, and some seasons of your life will require you to pour into one aspect of your life more than another to reach your goals. Rather than balance, the appropriate pursuit should be toward work-life synergy. When you think of synergy, you think of all sails moving in the same direction, thus, making the ship move faster. But what does that mean when it comes to your personal and professional life?

It starts with your mission. When you operate based on your life’s mission, and more importantly, serve a company that embodies a mission you align with, it’s easy to set your emotional, mental, and actionable sails in the same direction as your work. Furthermore, it comes down to being intentional. Work-life synergy only comes when you intentionally stay present in each element and intentionally design your days to best fit your values.

It’s also about committing to making positive changes in our daily routines and creating a fulfilling life that incorporates both work and play. It’s crucial for both our personal satisfaction and professional success, especially for those of us in leadership roles where the constant responsibility, stress, and pressure can quickly become overwhelming. However, if we have control over our well-being and make time for those things that bring us joy and fulfillment, we are better able to inspire others and perform at our highest level.

The issue may be that when it comes to work-life synergy, many of us tend to focus on what we're missing out on. Some yearn for more free time, fantasize about taking extended vacations, and even dream of quitting their jobs to pursue a passion project. Others get caught up in the daily grind and prioritize work over everything else. That’s when having a balanced approach to both your personal and professional life comes in.

Here are some tactics to incorporate to help you find the synergy you need in order to keep a full cup, even when work gets busy.

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Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries is critical in your pursuit of protecting your bandwidth and avoiding burnout. But how can you do it without looking like you’re not a team player or simply don’t want to do something? Try things like

●??????Asking for help, whether it’s from another leader in the company, your boss, a mentor, or even hiring a consultant.

●??????Rank and prioritize your to-do list. What projects need to be completed by you (and don’t you dare say all of them), and which ones can you delegate to others?

●??????Focus on communication — Make sure you’re crystal clear on other peoples’ expectations of you and your expectations of others.

●??????Take your time when responding to an ask. The next time someone asks something of you, just say “Let me check my schedule (or bandwidth) and see if I can make it happen.” Pause, then respond. Truly think through whether you are able and willing to take on a task, and whether you can do it at full energy or if it will drain you. If it will drain you, be honest and say you’re concerned about bandwidth or schedules syncing up.

●??????Prioritize your values. If you are a parent or have other social and relational obligations, try not to miss them. When you can be present in more elements of your life, you will be able to create synergy across the board much easier.

Indulge in Hobbies

●??????Too many people in the world let their hobbies and favorite activities fall to the wayside because they’re too busy. So much to do, so little time — right? Wrong. You decide. Block time in your calendar to read, write, sing, hike, garden — whatever it is you like to do — once a week. This, alone, will fill your cup and help you get re-energized.

●??????Spend more time outside. If the weather is nice, take your hobby outside. Get some sunshine. When you work in an office, it requires that you’re intentional about seeing the day of light. As a matter of fact, being outside in green spaces specifically can lower the risk of depression and enables faster psychological stress recovery. Being in nature can restore and strengthen our mental capacities, and help us to increase focus and attention.[1] To supplement your performance at work and in your personal life, just get outside more.

Self Care

●??????You guessed it — exercise. It doesn’t have to be rigorous, it could just be an afternoon walk that you incorporate into your routine. The benefits of exercise are worth the 30 minutes of discomfort you feel during the workout. You’ll not only feel more energized, have more level emotional responses, and feel more confident, you will be happier. The endorphins that come with a heart rate spike have been proven to help improve your mood, help you relax, and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety.[2]

●??????Get more sleep. You should for 7-8 hours of sleep every night in order to maintain stress and feel fully refreshed the next day.

Be Present

●??????Pause between tasks. Take 5 minutes to close your eyes for a quick meditation after you finish one task and before your move on to the next.

●??????When you’re working on a project, set a timer that outlines 30 minutes to an hour of deep, uninterrupted work. Until that timer is up, don’t get up, don’t check your phone, just focus on the task at hand.

●??????When you’re in a meeting, be in that meeting. When you’re with your family and friends, be with your family and friends. Get off your email, get off your phone, and be present.

●??????Incorporate the 3-Step Decision process when making decisions. This requires you to take time and be present in each decision you make, leading you to better decision-making overall.

This can include setting boundaries with colleagues and friends, carving out specific time for hobbies or self-care activities, or simply taking five minutes to pause and reflect before jumping into another task.

It’s easier said than done. Our lives are in a constant state of flux, making the strife toward work-life synergy a constant struggle. The key is to remember that life is about the journey, not the destination. It's about constantly evaluating our priorities and making choices that align with those values. And just like any belief system, there will be times when we stray from those principles and must reset and refocus. That's okay. What's important is that we never give up on our goal of achieving harmony in all aspects of our lives. By consistently checking in with us, setting boundaries, and being intentional about our health, wellness, and joy, we can ultimately create a fulfilling and balanced lifestyle.

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[1]https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/wellness-benefits-great-outdoors#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20mental%20wellness,capacities%2C%20increasing%20focus%20and%20attention.

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469