One of the top priorities for the majority of millennials is to have a healthy work-life balance and who could blame them for wanting that. In fact, this desire seems to be seeping into the psyche of other generations as well. These days you’re likely to read about or see baby boomers and people in senior management positions looking to improve their work-life balance. If you’re one of the many people who is looking to improve their work-life balance but aren’t sure where to start (short of quitting your job, but that defeats the purpose of finding a balance), then have a read of our short list of suggestions that you can implement.
This week Jumia Jobs shares with you five tips for a better work life.
Disconnect
On the surface this suggestion may seem simple but it can be quite difficult to pull off. A lot of people have a hard time fully disconnecting from technology and the internet. With smartphone and even smart watches people can struggle to escape from the constant flood of emails and social media updates. It’s not just essential to disconnect from the digital world, you should also do you best to disconnect from your jobs and leave your work at the office. When it’s time for your to enjoy your life and forget about work you should turn your phone onto Do not disturb or even turn it off; you should also leave your work laptop at work.
Plan for it
If you’re a busy person, free time doesn’t just happen, you need to specifically plan for it. Make a point of scheduling time in your calendar where you don’t do anything else but a leisurely activity – maybe a date night or perhaps you like to save Tuesday nights for your football league. If you’ve included these kinds of activities into your calendar it will give you something to look forward to and work towards. Having a good schedule is all part of managing your time effectively. If you have a hobby or pet project you’re working on you can schedule some time in the morning for it, even if it means you need to get up an hour earlier. A lot of people seem to think they don’t have enough time in the day to do everything they’d like, but if you plan for it in your schedule you’ll notice a huge difference.
Exercise
It might not surprise you to learn that the fitter you are the more energy you’ll have. While it might seem like a big ask to schedule time for exercise in your already busy schedule; the fact of the matter is, exercising is not only good for your health but it’s also good for your mental alertness. Meaning you can do more and be faster about it. This comes back to scheduling as well – not only should you schedule free time, you should also try to schedule in exercise. If you exercise more, you’ll see an improvement in your overall work-life balance. If possible you could look to cycling to work, or walking; you could join a sports teams or even a gym. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you do it regularly to feel the full benefits. In fact, exercise is a one of the daily rituals of highly successful people.
Learn to say no
This can be tough to learn but an invaluable skill to have when it comes to a work environment. A lot of people seem to find themselves in a bind, they’ve scheduled some personal time and then all of a sudden someone at work (perhaps their boss) asks for their help and they just can’t say no. So what happens? They end up doing more work and miss out on life. To improve your work-life balance you should do yourself a favor and learn to say no and be as amicable as you can be when you say it. Don’t be on call 24/7 learn to say no to your boss (when it’s reasonable) and enjoy a healthier work-life balance.
Work smarter not harder
Often times people get caught up in the amount of hours they have worked, rather than the quality of work they produce. Ensuring you work smarter and not harder will involve you improving your processes and focusing on the important tasks. You need to learn to prioritise and focus your attention on the most important tasks – the ones that will have the biggest impact on your overall output. If your work is organised and tightened up, you’ll notice a significant improvement in the amount of spare time you have. This will inevitably result in an improved work-life balance.
Don’t fall into the trap of sacrificing yourself for the job. Avoid the pitfalls that come from working too hard – illness, lethargy, frustration etc. Make sure you find the right mix between work and pleasure to ensure you have the optimum work-life balance.
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