These days, it’s hard to keep work from invading your personal life – especially with technology making you accessible 24/7. Failure to manage your work-life balance can hurt relationships, health, and overall happiness. Since everyone faces different daily pressures, it’s important to find a balance that is right for you. We’ve compiled some tips to push you in the right direction:
Do know when to unplug
It can become a habit to constantly check your phone – whether you’re at the dinner table, out for supper with friends, or at your kid’s football match. According to this article on Time, the average person checks his or her phone 46 times every day. If you’re with your family, make sure you give them your undivided attention. When you go on holiday, leave the tablet at home. You’ll get a better sense of perspective when you live in the moment, and you’ll feel less stressed without the constant notifications from your phone.
Don’t be afraid to be clear about your needs
If you find out what truly matters to you, don’t be afraid to communicate it. Make sure to cut or delegate activities that you can’t handle, and don’t take on extra work if you don’t have the time. If you need to leave at 5pm to make it in time for a yoga class, or step away at 12pm to run an errand, ask your boss if it’s okay. If your boss is a living, breathing human being, he’ll understand the importance of a work-life balance too. Time is a valuable commodity, and it’s the one thing you cannot buy more of, so make the most of it.
Do make time to relax
To avoid burnout, make sure you recharge your batteries every now and then. Take a bath, read a novel, or go for a relaxing massage – just as long as it’s something that will help you unwind. If you’re really pressed for time, try to do some breathing exercises at your desk or during your commute. Exercising might not seem like the most relaxing thing to do, but it’s an effective stress reducer. When you exercise, your body releases feel-good endorphins and improves your mood. It’s important to make time for the little things you enjoy.
Don’t forget to prioritise
It’s hard to prioritise when it feels like everything is important. The first step is to figure out which of your tasks take up the most time and which are really the most important. Is it helping with the kid’s homework? Meeting a work deadline? Painting the spare room? It might be helpful to make a list and rank the importance of each task. If you learn to set priorities wisely, you will achieve more and have more time to spend with your family.
Do take that family holiday
The main ingredient to a work-life balance is to get away from it all from time to time. Parents and children are consistently on the go – with work, school, chores, and after-school activities. Holidays pull families together and reinforce the fact that quality time is essential. A holiday is a great time for families to share experiences and create memories. After a well-deserved break, you’ll return to work feeling energised and less stressed.
You can easily maintain a work-life balance once you reclaim control of your life. If you want to start by taking a family holiday, consider booking a trip to sunny Majorca. Contact us for affordable and comfortable accommodation. Our range of family-friendly hotels in Majorca are close to the beach, and we have a range of amenities that both you and the kids will love.