Reclaiming Control: How to Maintain Work-Life Balance During Difficult Times
Life can get tough. Here are a few tips you can implement now to prepare for the difficult times.
Achieving work-life balance can be a challenge even during the best of times. As most millennials (80% of them, in fact) are part of dual-income couples, this also means the more unpleasant tasks of life also need to be split: housework, picking up the drycleaning, stocking the fridge, and so on.
Add to that the fact that we all need some self-care time, and suddenly the 24 daily hours we have at our disposal seem mighty short. Is there a petition we can sign to add another six hours to our days? No?
Well then, let’s examine how we can reclaim some control and maintain the best work-life balance with what we have available.
#1 Focus on what you can control
There are two types of stress: external and internal. External stressors can include a host of things, from financial troubles to health problems. These are often difficult to eliminate.
Although you may not be able to remove external pressures from your life, you can change how you respond to them. For example, if you're worried about financial security, consider what you can do to increase your income. Or, take the necessary steps so that you have a health care plan in retirement, without having to fear becoming ill.
If you’re having trouble working from home, try working from a coworking space. While it may seem counterintuitive (isn’t rolling out of bed to your desk the most efficient way to work?), going to a co-working space is actually a great way to be more productive. Here’s why:
It will help you establish a routine. You will need to get up and go out by a certain point in time, which will make procrastination much less likely.
It will help you separate work from life – no more working in bed or at the kitchen table. By far, this is the best way to regain some control over your (work) day.
It will help you get things done more efficiently because you know you have to leave at a certain time and go home. You can’t stay at work overnight (in theory, you can, but you won’t want to).
#2 Use relaxation techniques
From a biological standpoint, stress affects the mind and body by generating excessive levels of the hormone cortisol. Even though in small amounts, it's beneficial for cognitive and physical performance, prolonged exposure can wreak havoc on your system, keeping it in a perpetual fight-or-flight mode.
Methods that will help you reset include breathwork and meditation, but you can also take up yoga, which has been proven to lower cortisol levels and manage stress.
Likewise, working alongside other people – whether they’re your colleagues or people you share a coworking space with – can help ease the feeling of stress and give some wind at your back when things feel overwhelming. Providing support, boosting morale, and always leaving space for humor are all a part of working with others in a healthy environment.
#3 Schedule rest if you need to
One common cause of an imbalance between work and life is our tendency to disregard the importance of rest. Yet, the simple fact is, rest is crucial for productivity and happiness. So far so that getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night might help you be more efficient, minimize your chances of making mistakes, improve your memory, and encourage a higher degree of creativity.
There are some very simple ways to get more rest. Stick to a bedtime routine, don't drink coffee in the afternoon, and try to stay away from blue light before bed. Furthermore, if you suffer from a condition that compromises your sleep, such as insomnia or physical pain, look for solutions that will help you get better quality sleep.
The key point to note is that you need to have a schedule to make things work. Again, going outside of your home to work is a great way to achieve balance. It’s easy to slip up and keep working (or start working late) when work is a few steps away. But when you know you need to get dressed and go out, your mindset will be very different.
#4 Adopt healthier habits
One of the first things to go when we're overworked is our health. But, some healthy habits could help us be better at what we do, making us more efficient and cutting down the hours spent at work.
First, exercise can improve cognitive capacity. Cardio, in particular, can have excellent results, improving decision-making, planning, and organizing skills, as well as helping achieve better focus.
Second, food and beverages can also contribute to being more efficient. Poor nutrition can cause the same type of fatigue and brain fog as insufficient sleep. So, staying on track in terms of diet can be a good way to actively contribute to a better work-life balance.
Finally, keep an eye on your liquid intakes. You should be aiming to drink at least half a gallon of water per day. More if you're going to exercise. Keep in mind that coffee, although great for boosting energy, can be addictive. So try to limit your intake to below 400mg of caffeine per day.
#5 Question your priorities
Last but not least, one of the common reasons behind a poor work-life balance is a misplaced sense of what's important. After all, what good is a hobby that makes us happy, if we're too busy to dedicate any time to it?
So, it's not a bad idea to reevaluate our habits and priorities from time to time. This doesn't mean making drastic changes such as quitting a 9 to 5 job or moving halfway across the world. But you can make small adjustments that will make a huge difference. For example, decide to stop work at 5 PM every day. Don't check emails before breakfast. Or make sure your weekends are dedicated to family.
Remember that you're in control
Something as simple as changing the way you work can help you regain control and tip the scales of balance to your favor. Remember that you don’t have to do anything the way you used to if it’s not working out. Look at a space to work from that will get you in touch with people, help you establish a routine, and leave plenty of room for life after all the work is done.
Natasha is a lady of a keyboard and one hell of a geek. She is always happy to collaborate with awesome blogs and share her knowledge about business growth, career, and productivity-related topics. To see what she is up to next, check out her Twitter Dashboard.