4 ways to Balance your Work & Life

Most of you will know that I have a very hectic life, speaking at conferences and workshops around the world and delivering consultancy services as well. In fact in the last 12 months, I have traveled to more than 15 different cities in the USA, Spain, Italy, Bahrain and the United Kingdom. Friends and family (especially my Mom) often tell me to take it easy or I will 'burn out'. "Keep a Work/Life balance" is the mantra I hear very often.

It is true that very often our passion or mandate to deliver results, make us sideline the very people whom we are working so hard for. Unfortunately, not having Work/Life balance can be quite dangerous for our health and well-being.

In the digital era, most of us are used to working ‘beyond office-hours’ and believe a refusal may come in the way of a good annual appraisal and chance for promotion. The fact is that without a healthy balance between a robust professional life and a legitimate personal life, our work can become uninspired and our lives uninteresting. Stepping away everyday with enough time to do things other than work, helps us clear our head, gain perspective and bring our best to all areas of our lives. Needless to say, it also helps protect our close relationships.

I am happy to say that while it's still a challenge, I do manage to have that balance and here are 4 tips that may help you strike a Work/Life balance as well.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

1.    Plan & Organize

Plan and organize your day every morning if not the night before. Manage your time by setting appropriate goals and prioritizing what’s important and what’s urgent, against what is both important and urgent.

David Allen, who wrote the book “Getting Things Done” advises on making a series of lists to capture and process all the things that you need to accomplish in a day. There are many online tools and websites available that help you set your schedules and goals for each day.

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

2. Prioritize

Break each task into time-bound tasks, and spend time completing each element. Prioritize the tasks that require input from others so that you can finish your portion of the project and hand it over to the next worker. Learn to delegate tasks that can be done by others so you can focus on the ones only you can do. Having your priorities right will keep you away from unnecessary and unimportant tasks. You will be able to better utilize your day and energy.

"The Fastest way to reduce stress is to learn to say No!" - Mariela Dabbah

3. Learn to Say 'No'

Most people I have met, hate to say 'No', but I firmly believe that it's very important to say 'No' to things that do not align with our personal goals or that get in the way of something more important that we are committed to. There will always be pressure from others to do things, and while in some circumstances we may have no choice, we must develop this habit to say no when we can't or do not wish to do something or when there are of low priority. If an activity is not bringing you joy and helping you progress towards your goals, give it up!

For example, you have committed to special dinner with your better half, or an outing with your kids. No business deal or work assignment unless of a very critical nature should stop you from keeping that commitment with your loved ones.

"The greatest wealth is health.” - Virgil

4. Take Care of Yourself

Do not stress your mind with constant thoughts and plans for the future. Ease your mind and take your thoughts away for a moment. Go for a run, walk or meditate. Taking care of oneself includes, getting proper night's rest, consuming healthy food and keeping fit. When you work toward self-improvement, you become the captain of your own ship and eventually you will become more confident professionally and will know that there is more to your life than just office work. I'm probably very guilty of sacrificing my wellness for my ambition and this has often cost me dearly and so now I'm more careful then ever before.

Always remember that while work is an important part of your life, your LIFE is more important. Of course, all of these new habits take time to build and practice to maintain. Pick one action and start taking small steps in that direction. If you are consistent in taking action, it is totally feasible to improve your Work/Life balance dramatically.

So, what do you do to keep your life in balance? Do share your thoughts with me by leaving a comment below.