If your work takes up too much of your time that you don't have the
energy to spend time with your family and friends, physical
symptoms of burnout can quickly manifest as chronic stress, fatigue
and sleep difficulties. Reclaim a more positive work-life balance
by adopting the 8/8/8 rule: 8 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep and 8
hours of leisure time.
Booking it into your diary means you're less likely to bail out of
spending time with friends and family. Treat it as a non-negotiable
"meeting" so there's no excuse to double book yourself.
Does your diet and lifestyle fit around your to-do list? If work
has taken over, grabbing food on the go and not having time to
exercise are common consequences. Make a commitment to eat a
balanced, healthy diet and schedule in time for
exercise.
When things get hectic, don't be embarrassed to ask for help if you
need it -- whether it's from your family members, colleagues,
friends or employer -- so you can take care of yourself.
Putting unnecessary pressure on yourself by demanding that
everything is done perfectly means you'll never see the back of
your to-do list. Instead, let things slide that don't really
matter.
Plan one night per week that's all about you. Whether it's a
relaxing soak in the bath or getting engrossed in a good book, the
activity is irrelevant. What really matters is that you spend some
time focused on yourself.
Learning to say no isn't
easy, but it's a crucial workplace skill. Remember that you can
respectfully decline to take on unnecessary tasks or additional
projects. Be more assertive and you'll have more time to spend on
activities that you actually enjoy.
Getting your work-life balance back on an even keel means making
conscious decisions to separate work and home. Leave work in the
office -- don't bring it home with you. Set up boundaries and make
sure that colleagues and work connections are aware that you're not
"on call" during non-work hours.
Manage your to-do list efficiently by sorting items into a "must be
done today" category and a "can wait for now" category. Focus your
attention on the first category and don’t be hard on yourself if
the not-so-important items have to wait a bit longer.
Don't feel guilty for not being a Superwoman -- real people can't
juggle everything everytime. If you have your plate full, it's okay
to turn down some of the less important obligations in your
schedule.
