50 Tips for Work-Life Balance
Posted in The Simple Life
Work/life balance is the ”holy grail of the 21st century.” Bookstore shelves are loaded with books devoted to the topic. Ironically, people can’t find the time to read them.
Here is a list of quick and dirty ideas for developing balance between your work life and your personal life. These aren’t in-depth answers or processes for developing balance. They are thinking points.
If you’re having trouble finding that balance, read through this list. Look for ideas and concepts that could work for you. If necessary, start with number 4.
- Figure Out What Really Matters to You in Life
- Drop Unnecessary Activities
- Protect Your Private Time
- Accept Help to Balance Your Life
- Plan Fun and Relaxation
- Negotiate a Change with Your Current Employer
- Find a New Career
- Find a New Job
- Slow Down
- Learn Better Time Management
- Stop Procrastinating
- Share the Load
- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
- Explore Your Options
- Get Help
- Take Charge
- Simplify
- Don’t Overbook
- Learn How to Say No
- Organize
- Use Technology
- Stop Using Technology
- Stop Being a Perfectionist
- Schedule “Down” Time
- Go For a Walk
- Make Lists
- Focus on Outcomes, Not Problems
- Eat Healthy
- Eat at Least One Meal Per Day with Family
- Exercise
- Set Up Accountability
- Build in Consequences
- Build in rewards
- Get a Coach
- Be Ruthless with your Schedule
- Negotiate Agreements
- Take Time for You
- Work to Live
- Use a Positive Approach
- Ask Yourself Hard Questions
- Maintain Boundaries
- Delegate
- Set an Example
- Take Brief Breaks
- Use All Your Vacation Time
- Pursue a Hobby
- Get Involved in Your Community
- Play a Musical Instrument
- Live Within a Budget
- Learn to Relax
Update: As pointed out by the first Trackback below, I missed a 51st tip, Start Moofing! If you not familiar with Moofing, click here to learn.
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Great list and only goes to show that time management and a good work/life balance go hand-in-hand. Personally, since I started to work from home time management has become a major issue.
When I was employed I think my time perception was very different. Now that I am self-employed I would estimate that time seem to have accelerated by about a factor of ten. Days, weeks and months seem to fly by. Some days I get a sense that I really achieved a lot in the average ten hours I work each day, but others I get to the end of the day and really don’t feel I have completed a great deal of work. Procrastination is certainly a factor here, but its not the only time drain.
I’m still looking for a time management solution that works for me. For now, just getting enough downtime is my main focus.