Finding a Balance That Works For You

Amy Gilpin
Mar 22, 2018
3 min read

According to Wikipedia, work-life balance is a concept including the proper prioritization between work (your career and ambition) and lifestyle (health, pleasure, relaxation and family). What does that mean for the average, everyday person?

It can be very difficult to find a balance that works. The reverse concept of this is work-life conflict, which is much more common. Of course, some of us are workaholics and devote much of our free time to work. Many things can influence how we approach this issue, and it is different for each of us. What I am trying to achieve for my work-life balance will not look the same as what you are trying to achieve.

According to Forbes, technology makes people accessible 24 hours a day, with about 94% of working professionals reporting that they work more than 50 hours per week. Nearly half of those said they work more than 65 hours a week. Here are some suggestions they give for finding the right balance for you:

Let go of perfectionism: Are you an overachiever? If you are, you may have developed perfectionist tendencies at a young age when demands on your time were more limited. The problem is that as we get older, our families grow, and our responsibility increases, that perfectionism is far out of reach and that can lead to things like burn-out, depression and even substance abuse. It is suggested that instead of striving for perfection in what we do, we should strive for excellence. That is a philosophy I have tried to adopt in all areas of my life.
Unplug: Technology is everywhere these days. From telecommuting to programs that make work easier, technology helps us in many ways. It has, however, also created expectations of constant accessibility. The work day can seem never ending. By unplugging from that constant access, we can create truly authentic quality time with our friends and family, our spouses and children. Robert Brooks, a professor at Harvard Medical School says that ‘resilient people feel a greater sense of control over their lives’, while reactive people have less control and are more prone to stress.
Exercise and meditate: Even when we’re busy we manage to make time for crucial things in our lives. We eat (well ok, not always). We go to the bathroom. We sleep (again, some of us better than others). Yet many of us don’t take time to exercise or decompress. Self-care has proven to have positive effects on mood, overall health, and productivity.
Limit time-wasting activities and people: Identify what’s most important in your life. The list will be different for everyone, and it should authentically reflect your priorities, not someone else’s. Next, set firm boundaries so you can devote quality time to these high-priority people and activities. There are ways to diplomatically limit your interactions with people who distract you from those priorities, like politely excusing yourself.
Change the structure of your life: Everyone can get into a rut now and then. Take a step back from your life for just a minute and look at the whole picture. Instead of trying to do everything, try doing what you specialize in and value most. Delegate or outsource everything else. This can provide a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Start Small: The key is not to try making a whole life change all at once. Start small, one step at a time and build on your success.