It seems so unattainable – can we really have it all?
When we’ve got so many things to do, it can be difficult to achieve work-life balance. Lagging behind in one or more areas of our lives can severely impact our mental health and overall wellbeing.
But is it sustainable to juggle a perfect, successful career, without sacrificing time with our family and for ourselves?
It feels as if only the lucky ones have this notion of work play balance within arms reach, but what if I told you that that could be you too; that you can actually avoid burning yourself out completely by hitting that sweet spot right in between?
Developing a work life balance strategy is the first step in your journey – so, here are some work life balance tips and techniques to help you get started.
What is Work-Life Balance?
Work-Life balance is the phrase used to describe the balance, or ‘sweet spot’ that a person needs between the time for work and the time for other aspects in their life.
Australian workers are unsatisfied with their work-life balance
3 Tips to Help You On Your Way to Ultimate Work-Life Balance
Plan your time wisely
I know I know, easier said than done. However, I think many of us forget that there are only 24 hours in a day, so we need to make sure they count! To guarantee that you have enough time to achieve all of your goals, it is essential to plan out what and when you intend to complete them all. You can tackle this by creating lists, allocating time frames per task and developing a schedule that allows you to visualise what you need to achieve, alongside your personal commitments. By doing this, you will eliminate any stress that can come from disorganisation, while also incorporating play alongside all of the work.
Learn to prioritise
From creating a mapped-out version of your to do list, you can then begin to make some informed decisions on what exactly is a priority. It’s easy to push forward the simpler tasks that don’t require much brain power, however take a step back and ask yourself: ‘Is Task A really more important than Task B, or am I just trying to avoid doing what needs to be done?’ Dedicate your time to the things that produce the most valuable outcome, and don’t dance around the idea of getting the job done, even if it is a toughie.
Give every task your complete attention
We’ve all been there – you put the TV on while working on a lengthy assignment, because you’re a master at multitasking, right? If that’s really you, I truly admire this amazing talent of yours. However, I think the majority of us are lying to ourselves, thinking that we are equally as productive when our attention is divided, compared to when it is not. This especially goes for work-life balance. We can easily blur the lines when it comes to work and play. The key is to focus on one or the other, not both. When you focus yourself, you can complete your tasks more efficiently, leaving more time for you once you’re done. And please, put that darn phone away!
What does the concept of ‘Work-Life Balance’ actually mean to the average Australian?
identify work-life balance as having flexibility in their working hours or environment
think that a positive work-life balance occurs when work doesn’t interrupt their home life
think good work-life balance is comprised of working overtime when necessary, but being able to take personal time off when needed also
express work-life balance as only working your set contracted hours each week
The Top 5 Industries for Work-Life Balance
According to the SEEK Learning Defining Work-Life Balance Report, these industries have been found to have the best work-life balance in Australia:
of workers rate their job as good or excellent
of workers rate their job as good or excellent
of workers rate their job as good or excellent
of workers rate their job as good or excellent
of workers rate their job as good or excellent
Alright, now it’s up to you. Good luck!
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