In your life, a few different aspects hold a lot of importance. First, your job is important. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and it contributes to your livelihood, helping you afford all the things you need for good health and happiness. Second, your life outside the office, with friends, family and loved ones, is also important. These are the people who love and support you, and spending time with them adds to your overall well-being and quality of life. What starts to get tricky is if one side of this equation starts to take up so much time that you’re finding it difficult to get done all the things on your to-do list each week. From assignments to appointments and downtime—it takes balance to fit it all in comfortably. This is called work-life balance.
How to prioritize your work-life balance
If life’s weekly demands are starting to make you feel stressed out, it could be that your work-life balance has gotten out-of-whack. But with a few easy steps, you can get everything back on track and restore the harmony in your life:
1. Assess the situation.
Before you can make any positive changes, you’ll need to understand what is going on. Take a look at your workload, or what has been going on at home. Can you pinpoint exactly what is causing you to feel overextended? Once you understand what’s causing an issue, you can take steps to improve your situation.
2. Ask for help.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, talk to your boss. Can some of your assignments be shifted to a co-worker? Can you make your schedule more flexible, for example work from home part of the week, or adjust your shift? Maybe you’re short-staffed and it’s time to hire someone new. All of these concerns are things your boss can talk through with you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at home, think about ways you can get tasks done more easily. Maybe it would help to use a shopping service for groceries, hire a babysitter, or ask family for help. Consider what problems you’re running into and how you can re-calibrate to address them.
3. Prioritize.
Many times, we find ourselves overwhelmed by stress we’re simply putting on ourselves. It can help to prioritize tasks for completion. This way, you’ll have a clear idea of what to do next. Planning can make it much easier to do more with less, since you’ll spend less time feeling frustrated and can apply this time to getting things done. Start your day by highlighting a few things that must be accomplished today, and other things that could be accomplished today. Schedule the tasks that take the most brainpower for when you’re most awake, and other easier tasks for times when you aren’t, such as first thing in the morning or after work.
Know when it’s time to make a change
If you’ve found your job consistently robs you of work-life balance, it may be time for something new. And working with a recruiter, such as Inter-Connect, can help. We’ll review your career goals and experience, and help you find something that fits. To learn more, visit our job search page today!
