Every day, you wake up and rush to work. You tell yourself, “Tomorrow I will have a productive day”, but it goes rinse-repeat. If you have kids, that is a whole different spectrum to try to find the time of the day for yourself.

We understand you, we are all going through similar experiences and timelines. That is why, we have brought this article that will show you ways to have a realistic work-life balance. Keep on reading along!

What is work-life balance?

Some say it is a myth that there is no work-life but just life. A lot of people expect you to deal with it, and that is how it starts affecting you mentally.

Work-life balance is simply the balance between your money-making path and your personal life. It is a way to find and manage time for both without being burnt out. A good work-life balance brings you harmony. This means you are not stressed about completing a deadline while on a date.

Do I have a poor work-life balance?

Sometimes, we come home exhausted and cannot seem to find the energy anymore. Canceling plans seems better, things like this pile up on the plate, and it remains a cycle. That might not mean you are lazy, it might be poor time management and poor energy exchange.

Following are signs of a poor work-life balance

• Negative thoughts most of the time
• There is just no time for yourself
• Talking about work all the time
• Cancelling plans time and again
• Feeling overwhelmed most of the time
• Countless unpaid jobs in the name of exposure
• Doing nothing for yourself besides work

And the list can go on, it is okay if you do check under the list above. The hustle culture has made us to be on a pedestal constantly.

How does a poor work-life balance affect you health wise?

From over sleeping in the weekends, to having a poor diet, if not taken health seriously, it will show signs.

Poor diet

You might have skipped breakfasts or even lunches when deadlines are near. Doing that often disrupts your body which can hamper your immune system, and make you energy less.

Fatigue all the time

Staying late in the office, over working, (even the unpaid hours) can result in extreme exhaustion. It starts affecting your mood, focus and energy.

Mental exhaustion

Constantly trying to up yourself is not healthy. Yes, there are goals to reach, but feeling unworthy of unrealistic goals can cause self-esteem issues, depression, lack of motivation, Pessimistic thoughts

Sleep issues

Over sleeping is a high symptom of underlying medical issue, declining health. Straining your body beyond it’s limit makes it restless, making you feel much worse the next day.

Body aches

Sitting on your chair for long hours, without movement can cause a lot of damage. Some are bad posture, muscle stiffness, headaches, body tension.

Facing bad posture, read “Posture fix: 5 easy ways to fix your posture“

Strategies for a better work-life balance

The biggest strategy is “ accepting and working on it“. This means, accepting the amount of harm you were doing to your body and working on a better lifestyle.

Strategy 1: Prioritize yourself

To have less burnout, you need to know what is important to you outside work. This can mean your family, pet, hobbies etc. Finding time for yourself, allows you to reconnect with your soul, and not limit your purpose.

Strategy 2: Learning to say NO

Over committing can drain your body and mind. If you time and again allow yourself to do extra work, take unnecessary load, that isn’t you respecting yourself. Saying No isn’t rude all the time , it is a way to stick to your boundaries.

Strategy 3: Take a break

Short breaks during work, can refresh your mind throughout the day. Also, utilizing your leaves to connect with loved ones, restart your hobbies helps in regulating dopamine. Taking a break also means to stay away from screens and social media.

Strategy 4: Workout

Exercising , the costless way to restore your health. Working out creates tons of benefit. Moving your body replenishes your energy, improves your mood and also improves your health.

Strategy 5: Plan your day

Using day planners, task lists, can help you manage your time effectively. Checking out the things that are done also gives a sense of achievement, no matter how small it is. Planning your day also means to set realistic goals.

Final thoughts

Nobody likes the exhaustion that comes from work, if everyone found a job they loved, maybe it would be a different story. But, we need to remember , it is us who decides what to do with our one life. You can still accomplish your goals while making time for loved ones, pets, friends and most importantly YOU. In the chaos that our life gives, choose you. Hope our tips helped you with even a little bit of positivity and belief!