Work is an essential part of life, but for some people, it takes up too much time and mental energy, promoting imbalance in other areas of your life. Personal relationships, your mental health, and even XYZ depend on striking the right balance between work and the rest of your life.
Here are three expert tips for finding that balance. Each of these tips is simple and easy to apply right away. We hope you find them helpful!
Surround Yourself With the Right People:
Perhaps you’ve heard the idea that a person becomes like the five people with whom they spend the most time. It’s true: you are the company you keep. While it’s difficult to “choose” your co-workers (especially if you aren’t in a position to hire/fire them), you can and should attempt to surround yourself with positive people who inspire you to be your best at work.
Find a Hobby That Takes Your Mind Off of Work:
Hobbies are obviously a matter of personal preference, but one thing is universally true of them: they should help you unwind, and give you a sense of accomplishment different than you would get from the type of work you do.
Many people find this kind of “release” in physical activity like sports or yoga. However, if you work in a physically-demanding field like construction, this might not be the route you want to go down.
Finding an optimal work-life balance requires finding a hobby or activity that satisfies the parts of your brain and personality that your 9-to-5 cannot.
Make Time for Yourself Every Single Day:
Whether you are single or have a family, you still need to carve out time for yourself every day. It could be as short and simple as a 15-minute meditation session, or watching a television show that you like; as long as it’s satisfying to you, that’s what really matters.
This might sound selfish, but it really is not. Life is all about balance, and you won’t be able to give your work and your family your best self if you don’t occasionally nurture yourself and acknowledge your own worth, on your own terms.
Key Takeaway Points for Better Work-Life Balance:
Think about work-life balance as a teeter-totter: the more weight put on one side of the lever by work, the more effort it takes to balance things out.
Ignoring, or avoiding, this stress doesn’t make it go away. In fact, the opposite is true: one becomes increasingly imbalanced as they put more energy and effort into work, unless they’re creating a proper balance.
Indulging yourself with a television show, a 30-minute reading session of a book by your favorite author, or pumping some iron at the gym are all great strategies for different personality types. Ultimately, your stress-reducing methods need to be effective for you. We wish you the best of luck in trying to strike that balance!
Jay Sekulow is Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), one of the most prestigious law firms in the country.
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