Posted by While it is true that passion is an infinite fuel to your mechanism at work, staying connected to work 24/7 will do more harm than good. If you donât want to be burned out, take note of these simple tips that will help you to improve your work-life balance.
Work smarter, not harder
Thereâs a fine line between efficiency and effectiveness, but it is often overlooked by the majority of professional.
Productivity is getting more work done and efficiency means getting more quality work done.
Efficiency is often overshadowed by productivity because it’s always easier to measure quantity than quality. Itâs not a bad thing but hereâs a problem, it doesnât guarantee that everything you accomplish is at the optimal level.
Proper tasks prioritisation that allows for more organised and effective workflow will help to ensure better performance, which is considered as effectiveness. Naturally, highly effective employees can minimise the level of stress as well as the time consumed to finish their work better than their peers.
If you want to impress your boss, staying late after work every day is not going to help. Besides the fact that productivity is not the measurement of effectiveness, the late night owl habit will negatively affect your lifestyle in the long run. The right way to accelerate your performance at work is to do the right things at the right time, work smarter!
Minimal to no emails after work
We understand the anxiety of staying disconnected from work during the weekdays, but you wouldn’t want to overwork yourself either. If you find it hard to stay unplugged, try to settle everything that needs to be done for the day before you leave the office. Don’t let work emails take away your valuable family time, you’ll regret it down the road. In fact, it is illegal for employers in France to email their staff after working hours!
Almost all of us have our work email connected to our phones, try not to constantly scroll through it, perhaps you can even turn off the notification altogether once you leave the office. Consider setting a fixed schedule for checking emails at work so that you can be more organised and productive as well.
Don’t be a yes-man
Is your boss delegating tasks fairly? While you are expected to accomplish all the assigned tasks, with or without deadlines, you must first learn how to prioritise work appropriately. If your bossâ unremitting demands keep invading your personal time (read: extra work after office hours), donât be afraid to share your concerns with facts and solutions. For example, show to him or here your work schedule and priorities, or simply request for a proper timeline to finish the task.
Yes, you are hired to do what you are supposed to do, but it doesnât mean you can’t raise your voice on things that matter. Donât just recklessly say yes to everything your boss or colleagues request you to do, especially when it comes to your workload. Find the courage to say ânoâ if your schedule is already packed with other important things.
Establish your own âground rulesâ
You think that it is worthwhile to dedicate 100% to your job because it opens up more advancement opportunities? But hey, how about your family and your own well-being?
The consequence of workâlife imbalance can be dangerous if it gets too overwhelming, which could lead to even suicidal. Hence, you shouldnât let the supposedly-healthy devotion backfires both your career and lifestyle.
Set some ground rules for yourself to ensure that you donât overwork. Try slotting in more activities that keep your life meaningful, including the time for family activities. For example, âdinner at home every day at 7 pmâ, âdo grocery shopping every Saturday morningâ, etc.
In terms of working hours, you can design a rational schedule for all of your daily tasks so that you wonât be caught up with unexpected ad-hoc. While it may be hard for some people to unplug completely from work, you can gradually embrace the âofflineâ moments as long as you know that your responsibilities have all been fulfilled.
Pick up a new hobby
As an unwritten rule, people tend to associate âpassionâ with âcareerâ because there shouldnât be one without another. However, you canât find the same enjoyment in life if all you care about and strive for is work. The key to work-life balance lies in your own perception of what is meaningful to you.
Who said learning a new language, attending an art class, or journaling is not a passion? You donât need to make money out of something to give your passion a purpose. Unwind after work by picking up a hobby that youâve been longing to do, youâll find yourself appreciate the quality time outside of the office better.
Success is not defined by the long hours of work, itâs your attitude in life that will bring you places. With so many things demand for your time, it is better to realise what really matters.
âYou will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life.â
? Heather Schuck, The Working Mom Manifesto