Back to Articles
Work Life Balance: SEVEN Simple Steps 
‘How soon ‘not now’ becomes never..’Martin Luther 1483-1546
This article offers seven key steps to assist you to achieve work-life balance by adopting new life and work practices to re-evaluate the control of your life.
Work-life balance is a term familiar to most of us. Despite it’s simplistic self explanatory definition, its actual existence requires committed dedication to ensure rewards. Work-life balance is not a luxury we should view with aspiration; it is an essential part of leading a full and happy life, to which we are entitled. Unsurprisingly, in our pursuit towards optimum work-life balance, obstacles can be found.
When at home or work, we may occasionally confront strong emotions that can restrain us from seeking guidance or assistance. Such emotions as fear (consequences to bonus, career progression, being seen as weak) or guilt (at taking time for lunch, leaving at a reasonable hour or thinking I should be able to cope alone) can prevent any behaviour changes and need to be explored before moving forward.
‘I feel guilty if I take a time out for me’ is a regular cry of today’s professional. We are all aware our bodies are functioning machines that need fuel, rest and maintenance. So how is it we can justify working that extra evening, forgetting to eat a balanced diet or allowing our mind to race with tomorrows agenda while trying to sleep?
Today’s organisational culture leads us to resent the fact we are housed in bodies that require such attention. How can we afford to commit to exercise, refreshment and relaxation in order to keep blood and oxygen circulating to maintain mental and physical health and clarity, when there are deadlines to meet?
Technological advances have been astounding yet they have also contributed to the increased burden of relentless pressure on people. Expectations have risen in parallel to the speed of technological progress. We have become stress professionals, cramming every living moment with actions and impulses. In addition to our fundamental or ‘mechanical’ needs, we require love, attention and support to complete our essential well being.
Step 1 : Putting YOURSELF first
Frequently we put others first in the belief it is the sensible or ‘right’ thing to do.
Remember the safety instructions on board an aircraft? It clearly states to fit your own oxygen mask before fitting a mask to others. This is a RESPONSIBLE way to behave. You cannot help anyone else if you have not helped yourself. It is important to distinguish the differences between thinking self care is a responsible action as oppose to a selfish action. When you are coming from a place of love and respect for yourself, positive results manifest for all areas of your life. If you are stuck in a place of denial or guilt, the vicious cycle continues and well-being can elude you.
Start by replacing the belief ‘it is sensible or the ‘right thing’ to always put others first’ with ‘I have priority and responsibility for my self care before I can help others.’ Make a list of all the actions you need to take on a daily basis to look after your well-being. For example, eat a good breakfast, leave a break between meetings to gather your thoughts and reduce stress. From your list, commit to making one action a reality this week. Choose another next week while maintaining the first. Before long you will reap the benefits from your new behaviours.
Step 2: Dream
When our lives are out of balance we can frequently feel trapped or unable to see other options. By allowing yourself to dream and reflect on what a perfect lifestyle might look like, you are creating a vision to strive towards. After all, ‘if you don’t know where you are heading, any road will take you there.’ Dream about your ideal week, balance, finances, family time, health, relationships or travel. Dream freely and record your vision for the future. What would be your first step towards achieving it?
Step 3: Simplify your life
Don’t get sucked into a busy life, keep a clear head about what needs to be done and when. Leave emotions at the side and prioritise your time into three categories:
1. What is Essential?
2. What is Life Enhancing?
3. What is Hassle?
Ensure your essential items are truly vital and not a subjective decision. Are your life enhancing or ‘luxury’ items still a pleasure? Or have they slipped into the hassle cart? Develop steps to remove all hassle factors and replace with new ways of approaching the task based on fun and enjoyment. Work out what are the most important tasks at home and work. What are the key activities and how can you make best use of your mind, experience and skill?
Step 4: ACTION!
Plan what needs to happen, prioritise how it will take place and action what needs to be done.
Stretching out of your comfort zone can be uncomfortable. Change requires effort and energy. Start by committing to small actions often and most importantly hold yourself accountable.
Step 5: Be Organised!
Disorganisation is the thief of time! Invest in quality time to organise your personal and professional environment to support your activities. Physical clutter eats up valuable time! Emails and mobile phones have a unique ability to create the expectation of our availability 24/7. Our need to be needed is addictive, think how easy it is to log on to email or how our hands fiddle anxiously with mobile phones.
What would it take to gain control over our technology rather than feel victim to it?
Step 6: Enrol your TEAM
Have you ever tried to soldier on without asking for help? Then felt the associated feelings of isolation, martyrdom or exhaustion? How are we team orientated at work and yet forget to use the same principles at home? Leveraging the unique strengths of every family member can help achieve work-life balance.
Step 7: Seek Professional Advice for fast results
As a leading Professional and Personal Life Coach, Claire Hall specialises in work-life balance. Her client base includes individuals and couples seeking the tools and processes of achieving work-life balance.
Claire Hall
Subscribe to our site for future articles.
Back to Articles
|
|
