Time management, health management, how to be a better working mom or dad, you name it and the google filter is just filled with the agony of how work and life can be managed side by side,..and believe me you are not the only one struggling with it.
With ONLY 24 hours at hand, how can one possibly manage to sleep, eat, work and exercise? I mean one is only human right?! Right? Well nope, wrong. Not the fact that you aren’t human, but the fact that while being one you can still pretty much get all that you want done, and I am here to tell you how.
Before I move forward, you must know that I am no expert, and most of this comes from my own set of failed experiences. Yet somehow between the fine line and folds of work life chaos, I have figured out how to get most of life in order.
So if you want to get there, then read on my 8 tips to sort your life.
First thing first though, you must understand how time works. You do not make time, you sort your life out, and then you sort time. If you get this important concept in your head, you will surely get through rough patches.
8 Ways to Sort Out your Work-Life Balance Dilemma
1. Learn to say No
People who struggle the most with balancing between their tasks are often those who find it hard saying no. and well i used to be those people. Fresh out of college, I wanted to learn the best of everything, whether it was marketing, research or reading Bill Gates 100 best books, everything needed to be on my list. And guess how much of a learning curve I experienced? ZERO! Yes, that is what happens when you engage your mind in multiple channels. And that is when i realised, saying no not just to people but to yourself is equally important. You can only learn one thing at a time and yes you have to make peace with it for your own well being.
2. Take regular breaks
Taking microbreaks is important, even if that means taking a 30 second microbreak. Taking a small microbreak helps you prioritise your work better. That in return improves concentration and also reduces your overall stress. Taking regular short breaks also help you create better head space for your tasks. You might as well be able to pool in fresher and better ideas.
A Lot of people encourage regular short breaks. Robert Pozen, an MIT lecturer encourages his students to take a short 15 min break after 60 mins or so for maximum productivity. And this is obviously more coupled with the studies that show that most people undergo physiological fatigue every 90 minutes, and lose their terrain of focus, which is why breaks are not just a modern idea intervention but a solid bodily need.
3. Be honest to yourself
Being open about and forward with what you can get done is the best thing you will ever do for yourself. Let’s be honest here, not everyone is a champ in everything. And even with your current field of work there is still solid potential for a learning curve. It a3lso does not mean sticking with your work at all times and having your lunch at your desk. Be honest and truthful to yourself in what and how you can use your designated time.
4. Prioritise your time
If you really want to be at the top of your time saving game then this is one thing you have to consciously learn. First of all make this a concept in your head ‘ anything that i say no to, i am consciously not prioritising it’. This mantra can also help you in understanding and sorting out your goals.
5. Take time out for yourself
If you are not going to do that. You will eventually fall into a love-hate relationship of what you do, well more inclined towards hate relation. Just a little time to yourself will help you accomplish more in less time. Just 30 minutes of your day to you will help you feel human again.
6. Have boundaries
Nothing is more important than drawing a line between having the right boundaries and being too nice. Boundaries do not necessarily mean to be mean, says the best psychologist doctor in Lahore, but politely turning away something that does not benefit you or harm you. Believe me, nothing is more suicidal to your self worth than not having boundaries.
7. Schedule your time using time blocks
If you don’t have control over your time, you don’t have control over your life. When a lot of things are happening in the same pendulum, it’s always best to track them minute by minute so you have maximum control over your time.
8. Short naps saves the day!
Of course when you are short on time, it is easy to get tired of doing so much at the same time. This is where you have to rest your brain for maximum productivity. Squeezing in brief breaks for naps can improve your overall strength and energy a lot.
Wrapping it Up!
There is just so much you can do in a short span of time. But really if you think about it, it is what you choose to prioritise in your life and are willing to put your energy into it. If you are wise about your time and use the right time managing tools, you can easily manage your work-life balance perfectly.
