How To Balance Work And Life

One of the hardest things to do is figure out how to balance work and life. Whether you’re a 9 to 5er, freelancer or entrepreneur, boundaries can easily be blurred. Here are 5 ways I was able to find balance and even get more sleep.

SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES
It’s important to leave work at work and leave home at home. Setting clear boundaries like leaving work at 5p everyday (even if you work for yourself or freelance) so you have enough time for family and hobbies is imperative. It also sets clear expectations for everyone in your life. If people know you get to work on time and leave on time they will respect your time by default. Not taking any work calls after 7p or on the weekends sends a clear message on how you your time as well. Your loved ones at home appreciate it and people at work respect it.

TAKE BREAKS
As someone who loves to be productive, I cannot stress to you how important taking breaks are. And breaks don’t need to be long to be effective. Even walking away from your computer for 5-7 minutes allows your brain to briefly recharge giving you enough energy to end the day strong. This goes for home, too. As a wife and mom, when I’m in a rhythm of cleaning up or making dinner, stepping away for a few moments allows me to not become overwhelmed. There’s no shame in taking a break. It simply means, you value your mindset as you do work.

BE PRESENT
This is a big one. The issue in today’s society is that we have too much access to one another thanks to smartphones, email and social media. But here’s something that you should know: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ON ALL THE TIME. When someone is speaking to you, at home or at work – actually listen without scrolling your Instagram timeline. I know, groundbreaking. Look them in their eye and digest what they are actually saying. You will be blown away how much that means to people (think about the last time that’s happened to you and how it made you feel). It’s a big deal. It simply shows how much you respect being at home or at work. And even on really intense days, it makes you appreciate the other place a lot more.

BE INTENTIONAL
Last but not least, you have to be intentionally about this balance. Just because you say you want to know how to balance work and life, doesn’t mean it automatically happens. As Steve Maraboli says, “Intent reveals desire, action reveals commitment.” Just about all of us desire work life balance, but only a number of us are truly committed to it. You have to remind yourself everyday why balancing is so important to you.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP
I’ve talked about how I started getting more sleep in another post, and I cannot stress how important that is. If you’re all over the place and cannot focus because you are exhausted, the lines will always be blurred. Prioritize getting in bed early enough to get adequate sleep. It seems elementary but makes all the difference when you head to work the next day.

This post was sponsored by it bed by Sleep Number. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks so much for supporting the brands that support the site!