HOW TO MANAGE YOUR WORK LIFE BALANCE
You know the drill—wake up, check emails, start creating, communicate with clients, attend meetings, keep answering emails, phone calls and texts, keep creating, squeeze in some food somewhere in the mix, squeeze in some family/friend time if you can, and finally fall into bed exhausted. Sleep, wake up and repeat all over again. If this pretty much sums up your life, then we probably don’t need to tell you that you may be on the fast track to a major burnout. If you’re looking for a better work-life balance, these are some top tips on cutting back on stress and improving the quality of your life.
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE
The Power of Planning
How many times have you started your day by just jumping in feet first and tackling whatever came your way as you encountered it? And how many days like that have actually turned out to be super productive? Without a solid plan of action, we tend to get sidetracked from the really important tasks by smaller tasks that don’t actually get us anywhere. However, with a clear list of priorities, we can make better decisions to get more done in less time, which in turn frees you up to do the things you really enjoy in life. Try taking five minutes every morning to create a game plan for the day, and stick it somewhere you can see it to make sure you stay on track.
Schedule Time to Check Emails
One of our favourite resources for finding a better work-life balance is The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, and one of our favourite tips he gives is to schedule just two times a day to check your emails. He also suggests putting an auto-responder on to alert clients of the fact that you will only be checking in at those set times. The reasoning behind this is that responding to emails can take up a huge chunk of times and distract you from the important things in life. By pencilling in set times to tackle your inbox, you can actually enjoy a work-free weekend, a fun outing with friends, or quality personal time without giving in to the urge to always be on call.
Try the Pomodoro Technique
Another time management tool we love is the Pomodoro Technique. Developed by Francesco Cirillo, this method suggests breaking up your workload into 25-minute intervals. Basically, you set a timer for 25 minutes, work on one thing and ONLY one thing for those 25 minutes, and then take a short three to five-minute break before returning to the task for another 25 minutes. The benefits of the Pomodoro Technique include sharper focus, less burnout, and a sense of accomplishment when you see your intervals add up. This method also trains your mind to work during set times, and not when you have other things on the go.
Switch Off to Get More Switched On
Technology has made it super easy for us to stay in touch anywhere and at any time, but the downside of this is that we are constantly being bombarded with incoming emails, phone calls, text messages and social media notifications. The simplest way to avoid distractions is to turn off all notifications for set periods of time. This could include while you’re working on a big project or even for an entire weekend. During your distraction free times, close all extraneous tabs on your computer, put your smartphone where you can’t see it (and put it on silent), and switch off any other electronics that might mess with your focus. Not sure you can break free on your own? Try using a time management app that like RescueTime or Freedom.
Focus on the Best, Ignore the Rest
Speaking of distractions, how much time and energy do you spend dealing with people and activities that add little or no value to your life? For example, maybe you have ‘friends’ who constantly try to draw you into their drama or gossip, or maybe you’re constantly saying yes to invitations for social events that outright bore you. Sometimes you need to draw up boundaries, say no, and take a step back from the people and things in your life that are wasting your time so that you can channel your energy back into yourself and focus on the things that actually improve your overall well-being.
Outsource Your Most Time-Consuming Tasks
As creative entrepreneurs, we tend to try and do everything on our own, and oftentimes this means spending hours on tasks that could easily be done by someone else. Yes, you might be saving money, but at the end of the day, wouldn’t you rather spend a little bit more to free up some of your time so you can get back to the things that really matter to you and make you happier, healthier and more productive? Outsourcing is no longer just for big corporate companies. In fact, some of the most successful small business owners outsource everything from graphic design to writing to daily errands. Some great outsourcing sites include UpWork and Fivrr.
Exercise for Better Health, Happiness and Brain Power
We all know that exercise is good for your health and good for slimming down, but studies show that regular exercise can also increase your brainpower and happiness levels. When you exercise it sends blood and oxygen flowing to your brain, which allows your brain to function at maximum capacity. Exercise also releases the hormones serotonin and dopamine, which improve memory and focus, fight stress and boost your mood. Instead of thinking of exercise as something extra you need to fit into your schedule, think of it as an essential tool you can use to increase productivity and make your life a bit more carefree.
Schedule Time for Yourself
Why is it that we have no problem scheduling everything from meetings to coffee with friends to picking up the laundry, but time for ourselves never seems to make it onto the list? At the end of the day, you should be your number one priority. After all, how can you effectively run a business or care for your family when you’re stressed out to the max? The next time you draw up your to-do list, be sure to schedule in some time for yourself. Set aside an hour or two every day to do the things that make you happy like reading, writing, or taking a walk. Also try to set aside at least one or two whole days every week that are just for you.
