What is this work life balance myth anyway? For a generation raised on a heavy dose of hustle culture, it can feel out of reach.
We grow into adults believing that being productive is our biggest purpose in life. And that it is the only way to get validation and feel a sense of self-worth. A couple years (or in my case, a couple of months) in this hustle mode is enough to burn us out.
Such times call for a retreat. Away from this capitalist, fast-paced world where no one seems to skip a beat.
Unfortunately after a few days, the spa glow and beach tan wear off in the grind of the week. And we are back to square one. ☹️
Now that we are in the middle of a pandemic – things are obviously far more challenging. There is no escape from this reality!
The work days bleed into the evening. The bubble bath with your Lush goodies doesn’t seem to cut it. The walls of the house seem too small and too familiar with nowhere to retreat!
I soon realized that I need to take control of this situation. Pandemic or no pandemic, I needed to create a life that I don’t need a break from!
Hustling too hard and burning out is not my IDEAL lifestyle. This way of living which leaves no space for myself is definitely not SUSTAINABLE.
So I got down to journaling my days and identified these five key areas to focus on to achieve work life balance. These tips will help you create a balanced lifestyle where you can thrive!
1. Earning back your personal time
Firstly, everyone’s idea of work life balance is different. What is “work” for me, is probably “down-time” for someone else.
Work life balance might mean making time for your hobbies or the flexibility to work at different hours. For some, it could mean not answering work emails on the weekends. Others might find it fulfilling to spend longer hours at work or in their side-hustle.
I recall this quote:
“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass.” – Bryan Dyson
This is SO TRUE! Work will always bounce back. But your time, health and family are irreplaceable.
The best strategy to manage your work life is to set realistic goals, work efficiently and set boundaries.
Set realistic goals
I make sure to set realistic deadlines for my tasks and communicate them clearly. Over-promising on a deadline or setting an impractical timeline causes stress and a bad work environment. There is no room for that kind of energy!
Work efficiently
The Pomodoro technique helps me work efficiently. I set a timer for 25 minutes, remove all distractions from my table and focus on completing a task. Then I take a quick break and move on to my next task. This method of working in intervals has helped me make the best use of my time!
Grab your free copy of our Pomodoro productivity planner!
Set your boundaries
My biggest pet peeve about working from home is how easily the work day extends well into the evening. And BAM! The day is over.
Choose an acceptable time to put a hard stop to your work day. Try your best to schedule all your meetings as early in the day as possible. Check your work email right before you log off for the day and transition into a Do Not Disturb mode.
If your job requires you to work long hours, you should take regular breaks and carve out some time for yourself during the day.
2. Balancing family life
Living by yourself is liberating for the most part, but it can get lonely during these times. On the other hand, living with your family 24/7 can turn out to be a love-hate relationship that you are getting used to!
Whether you are a few miles or oceans apart from your family, it is nerve-wracking not knowing when you will be able to see each other next and get a big hug.
Here are a few tips to balance your family life:
- Keep in touch with your loved ones regularly. Make an effort to celebrate special occasions virtually! You can host Netflix Party nights with your family.
- Create a new family routine for the weekdays and stick to it. This structure will help in keeping a balance between work and family time.
- Set aside some quality family time with no-phones!
Discussing COVID is everyone’s favorite small talk for the year – I say move on from that! Talk about the little ways in which our days have become slower and simpler. Reminisce about the good old times. Let’s focus on the good in our lives!
3. Staying active
10k steps a day? That’s an ancient story!
The way I think of my fitness is simple. I need to move for at least an hour everyday. It can be anything – walking, yoga, gym, or having a dance jam!
Devoting this hour each day will give you a break from working from the same spot all day! I’d suggest doing some posture correcting stretches since we are hunched over our laptops for long hours.
4. Eating healthy
When you are stuck at home, you have two choices:
You can binge on your favorite cookies and chips all day. Or you can eat consciously and keep yourself fit!
It is much easier to track your calories and eat consciously when you are home. Why?
- There are no vending machines at home, so what you see in the fridge is what you get!
- Social drinking has reduced drastically! Smoothies are the real winner.
- No more sodas and junk from the office cafeteria.
The real trick to eating healthy at home lies in grocery shopping!
Make a conscious choice to buy healthier snack alternatives. If you completely cut back on your favorite snacks, you might find yourself craving for it even more! So buy smaller portions and cut back gradually.
5. Positive mental health habits
This part of your life needs the most TLC from you!
This year has been tough on us in different ways. Journaling helps us accept our situation – our troubles and our unexpected joys from this time. Ask yourself what you really need at the moment and give yourself exactly that! We all deserve to be kind to ourselves first and foremost. 🥰
Make a list of all the lovely things that you are grateful for, however big or small. Try to focus on the upside – I like to think of this time as a sabbatical from the fast-paced world. I am grateful for not having to drive to work in traffic, or fall asleep on the couch without dinner after a long day at work.
Use this quality time for yourself by picking up old hobbies or trying new ones. Here are some great ideas for you to try!
Change your morning routine to cushion yourself from an overload of information. This will help you feel significantly calmer and relaxed during your day.
These strategies have helped me achieve a sustainable and balanced lifestyle. I hope these tips help you in achieving your work-life balance. Share your thoughts and your favorite tips with us below! ❤️