How to Balance Your Work and Professional Life

We keep hearing about the importance of striking the perfect work-life balance. Most of us work towards achieving it by taking some time off from our busy schedules and spending it with family and friends. For dedicated working professionals, however, doing this can seem easier said than done. More often than not, their entire lives revolve around their work; and sure enough, they have tremendous responsibilities on their shoulders. However, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

We live in times when stress reigns supreme and our personal lives take a backseat in order to ensure success in our careers. We're finding out, though, that this doesn’t work in the long term.

This post presents a few tips that industrious professionals can use to strike the perfect work-life balance. Implementing some, or all of these tips will make not only the busy professional happier, but also his or her family.

1. Plan Adequate Breaks in Your Workday
   
   When you’re immersed in work it is easy to get carried away and lose track of time. Getting wrapped up in a task can result in skipped meals and being seated for prolonged numbers of hours, you ultimately end up spending all your time at your office desk. This is why you need to plan breaks into your schedule.
   
   Set a reminder and mark it in your calendar so that you know you need to spend some quality time with yourself. This, in turn, will motivate you to perform better. You don’t want to stress yourself out. Stress will not result in productivity. And just because you are active much of the day does not mean you are productive. Activity does not necessarily equal productivity.
   
   2. Divide Responsibilities
   
   It is understandable that your assignments are your babies and you want to give them your all. It is, therefore, only natural that you may want to try and prioritize most of your tasks. This, however, can take its toll on your physical and mental health in the long term. You can always divide certain tasks among your team members.
   
   For instance, if you’re not particularly adept at a certain task, you can have someone reliable from your team do it for you. If the task is making you "lose your mind," ask someone with a penchant for it to do it for you.  
   
   While the timely completion of tasks is critical to your success, they can also drain you and keep you from making other sound strategic decisions. You’re certainly better off not burning the candle at both ends.
   
   3. Set Limitations
   
   In order to make time for yourself you will have to set certain boundaries with regards to your accessibility to your colleagues and customers. Make it extremely clear as to when you will and won’t be available. This will help take the edge off and enable you to relax when you’re not at work, thereby keeping burnout at bay. Furthermore, this will prevent your peers from having unreasonable expectations of you.
   
   If you’ve made yourself too reachable all this time, then setting boundaries and limiting your availability can come as a rude shock to people who are used to contacting you at any time. You can notify them about your new schedule well in advance, in a professional manner.  Ask them to reach you during your work hours as that is when you’d be able to respond to their queries better.
   
   4. Say Adios to Tech Gadgets
   
   It is best to switch off your smartphone once you’re done at work as doing so will allow you to disconnect from the ever-increasing demands of your business. Make it a point to intentionally turn your communication devices off and disengage. Doing this will go a long way in helping you stay more focused during your active work hours.  
   
   5. Being Organized Goes a Long Way
   
   Did you know being organized can help you be productive? By being organized, you not only end up getting more done in less time, but you also make more time for your personal life. You can spend the extra time with your family, pursuing your hobbies, tending to social issues you care about, indulging in music or sports, and so on.
   
   Those who rely heavily on technology to keep their lives sorted out can use PDAs, online calendars or smartphone apps during their working hours. Those with a low-tech approach can simply use a pen and paper to stay organized. Figure out what works for you and use it to your advantage.
   
   6. Get Some Peace and Quiet
   
   Spending some quality time with yourself and reflecting on your life is essential if you want to stay grounded. Having some quiet time every day will help you clear your mind of the clutter of thoughts and uplift your mood. This, in turn, can help you think more clearly when things around you get fast-paced. This can also be a great way to de-stress and bring peace into your life.
   
   7. Do Things of Personal Importance
   
   As soon as you realize that your work is not your whole life you will want to keep your professional and personal lives separate, and work towards improving both. Your personal life is important too and getting it right will make your journey more fulfilling. Whether it is music, exercise, personal events, or date nights, they’re all as important as any board meeting at work.  
   
   A lot of high-profile professionals often find it difficult to let go of work. However, a conscious effort needs to be made for achieving personal milestones as well. Don’t assume that your family members will be understanding all the time, and cancel plans with them. If you make a habit of this your relationships will suffer. Commit to your personal life, just like you do with your professional career.   
   
   8. Stay Fit and Active
   
   All the effort you put in at work probably keeps your mind active, but you also need to think about your body. Neglecting your health and fitness can result in burnout, which can put you through several of its symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and severe stress.
   
   It is important to do what needs to be done to stay mentally and physically fit. Eat healthy meals, get moving, sleep well, and get sufficient me-time to stay in the best of your health.
   
   Conclusion
   
   While career success is paramount to every working professional, you also need to keep the long term in mind and design your lifestyle accordingly. As you work hard, do not make the mistake of ignoring your physical and mental well-being. It is important to stop and smell the flowers occasionally. Remember, the choices you make will be highly instrumental in helping you balance your work life and your personal life, and will benefit both to the maximum.