Are you achieving a good work-life balance?

Work is an expected activity of life and is something we prepare ourselves for during education. But going to work doesn’t have to be a grind, and it certainly shouldn’t affect your personal life in a negative way. However, many people struggle to get the work-life balance correct and suffer as a consequence.

Although work is often very demanding and consumes a huge part of our time, we should always make sure there is plenty of time to relax and unwind. Making time for hobbies and activities is extremely important, but if you are finding that work is eating into that time then maybe you should re-think your work-life balance.

Here are 4 great tips on how to achieve a good work-life balance:

Be realistic 

There is no such thing as the ‘perfect work-life balance’ and striving to achieve one is going to leave you disappointed. If you are looking to make an important change then be realistic. Creating a perfect schedule timed to perfection will not always work out, and recognising when work will sometimes become stressful and time consuming is going to put you in a much better state of mind.

Looking after your family and paying the bills is a difficult task and can sometimes feel impossible, so don’t worry if your hobbies and leisure time take an unexpected journey to the land of ‘not gonna happen today’!

If you are able to create some kind of routine that involves the gym before or after work and the cinema every Friday night, then great – why not! But be realistic and understand that things don’t always go to plan.

You must strive for a job with great job satisfaction 

Many surveys have been conducted over the years asking people what they value the most from a job – pay or job satisfaction? You’d be surprised to know that job satisfaction is the more important of the two. But why is that?

Sure, we all go to work to get paid so we can pay our bills, go out on a weekend, buy fancy cars, go on holiday to Spain and buy nice clothes etc. But what’s the point if we’re not happy? The sheer amount of hours we spend working our entire lives is very high, so if you are unhappy for that amount of time it’s clear to see why job satisfaction is a higher priority.

Without job satisfaction and a constant sense of achievement, development and reward, you are going to go home unhappy each and every day which will naturally become a hindrance during down-time.

If you feel that this is seriously lacking in your current role, then why not look for a new job or even career. For further information on how to change job or career, read our guide.

“Most people chase success at work, thinking that will make them happy. The truth is that happiness at work will make you successful.”

~ Alexander Kjerulf –  founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Woohoo inc and one of the world’s leading experts on happiness at work.

Alexander Kjerulf claims that happiness at work is the most important factor that contributes to good careers, happy lives and business success, as he explains in this video:

Get away from technology 

We can often get lost into the world of social media, constantly checking our phones and e-mails, watching Netflix and playing Xbox. But sometimes you just need to get away from technology and cut out all the noise.

Sometimes you just need to get away from the usual day to day routine and take a break. Far too many hours can be spent in front of a tablet, phone or laptop and the good old outdoors is the best way to recharge your batteries and get your mental state back to a positive mood.

Ask yourself how many times you’ve gone on holiday and still checked your e-mails or opened your laptop to find out what’s going on at work back home. Is this really what you should be doing on holiday? What’s the point in going on holiday if you’re going to do the same things?

Your health is number one on the list 

Making your health a priority is the most important aspect of achieving a good work-life balance. If your work is affecting your health negatively, then you need to immediately make changes before things get worse. At the very least you need to make a long term plan to improve your current condition.

If you feel you need help then don’t be afraid to ask for it, whether you seek assistance from a friend or family member, or even if you speak directly to your manager about the health problems you’re having. Even if your health issue isn’t related to work, it could still be affecting your ability to perform as required.

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