Work-Life Balance: Tips To Reclaim Control
Modern-day adults struggle with time management and finding the right balance between work obligations and personal life. As more people move into remote work-spaces, it becomes even more difficult to draw a clear line between the two and enforce boundaries.
Write Down Your Priorities
People who commit to living with intention have much happier and healthier lives. It starts with reviewing your lifestyle choices and determining what your priorities are. For instance, if you are a young professional, maybe you feel committed to pursuing corporate success and don’t mind putting in a few years of extra work. However, parents may need to prioritize their families. Regardless of your position and goals, remember to also use time management to prioritize yourself and your mental health.
Calculate Opportunity Costs
No human on earth has unlimited resources. Even the wealthiest people have the same 24 hours in a day and move at the same pace toward old age. So, what will you give up now in hopes of capitalizing on something later? The sacrifices you make now are your opportunity costs. For example, some professionals may want to put in extra time at work now, so they can retire comfortably in a few decades.
Create a Work Schedule
One of the worst things about being able to work from anywhere is that you often end up working everywhere. Similarly, one of the worst things about being able to work at any time is that you end up working all the time. Good time management skills require deciding on your work schedule and sticking to it. It doesn’t need to be the restrictive nine-to-five schedule you left behind at the office, but find something that works for you. If you still work in the office, determine ahead of time what your cut-off point is for overtime.
Enforce Boundaries
When you decide on your priorities, accept your opportunity costs and set your work schedule, enforce those boundaries. If you find yourself working for clients or employers who do not respect these boundaries, consider terminating those relationships. Your family members and friends also need to respect boundaries. For instance, if you set a work schedule from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., they need to understand you will not be available at that time. You should also hold yourself accountable for taking your breaks and making time for the things you love.
Ultimately, everyone needs to draw their own conclusions about how much of their lives they want to dedicate to work. Good time management skills can ensure that even the workaholics make some time to prioritize health and reduce stress.