How to have a work-life balance

Work Life dichotomy is a concept that originated in the mid-1800’s. In every industry globally, almost all employees face this elusive quest to balance the scale of work and lifestyle.

Each one of us gets 24hours, no more, no less. What we choose to do during this time determines the balance of the scales. Some squeeze every waking hour while others squander the hours and minutes of a day- Being BUSY. We wear this badge of honour called BUSY, with pride. I certainly am guilty of all of the above.

In recent times, I have become ashamed every time I hear these words leave my mouth. Does this stem from guilt for not catching up with friends or recognizing that busy gives me an excuse to not exercise or is it because I have become resentful of the fact the work has become all-consuming. I don’t believe we can achieve a perfectly balanced scale. There are times when we have to work more and spend less time with the people we love. However, there things we can do that will help blend our work and our personal life more successfully.

TRACK YOUR DAY How do you spend your time? What consumes your hours and minutes? An early lesson I learnt was that perfectionism decreasing productivity and increases stress. The demand on our time as men and women have changed over time. We have increased responsibilities. It is a juggling act, that very few master. We have to develop skills in time management and learn shortcuts that allow us to work smarter and not harder. What do you value? Do you enjoy what you do? Know your purpose or goals. It makes it easier to say NO, to things that compete for your time.

BE PRESENT In whatever you are doing in any minute or hour, be present. All relationships need nurturing. Enjoy that moment and listen to that conversation. Focus on the positive. Whether it is ten, thirty or sixty minutes, connect with those around you. Have you ever had a conversation with someone, and you had missed most of what is being said? Ten minutes of quality PRESENT time far out weights sixty minutes of unfocused time.

BUILD RESILIENCE AND HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Don't dwell on failures or when things don't go exactly as planned. Learn from your mistakes, leave it behind and move forward. As some wise person said, get up and make your bed. You cannot change things that are beyond your control. A positive attitude attracts positive people and brings optimism into your world.

PRIORITISE YOU Eat well, sleep well, schedule exercise and don’t be afraid to spend time by yourself. Pursue an activity that you enjoy.

These few things can help move us towards achieving harmony in the way we do life.