Is work-life balance even possible?

I can only give my answer to that question—no, it is not possible. What I mean is that sometimes our lives will require more (time, focus, energy) and sometimes work will require more of the same. But what is possible, to me, is to have the intention—and take some actions —to have your life at least feeling balanced…most of the time.

Work-life balance will look a little bit different for everyone. The key is finding a healthy separation between work and life, which allows us to feel rejuvenated, fresh, productive, and ready to be present—at home and at work.  To help you find that separation, here are some tips that I have shared with teams that I coach that can help reinvigorate your work-life balance. As you read them over, think about the one or two that would have the most impact for you! (And do them???)

1. Actually take your PTO

Whether it be workplace culture or your own perspective toward work, it can be common to feel guilty when actually taking your paid time off. Switching out of this mindset is key to invigorating your work-life balance. PTO is part of your paycheck, and if you don’t use it, you’re essentially overworking for free. Time off is crucial to rest, recharge, connect with friends and family, and invest time in the things that bring you joy. Working more hours than you should doesn’t always equate to being better at your job. In fact, taking time away from work can give you the space to return with better energy, mood, and focus.

2. Learn to strategically and respectfully say no

In an effort to do it all, be a team player, or avoid being perceived as lazy, we’ve all said yes—and paid the price. In this case, the price is less time spent on other, higher-priority tasks, staying late at work, working when you’re not being compensated to work—the list goes on. Having healthy boundaries at work and declining tasks that would make your workload unmanageable is not only acceptable but crucial to your output and your mental health. If you don’t have the capacity to make an ask happen, say so.

3. Respect your coworkers’ work boundaries

This one connects with number 2. If you want others to respect your work boundaries, give your coworkers the same courtesy. Not everyone has the same capacity, and learning how your colleagues work best can have a positive effect on your workplace culture. If your coworker doesn’t text you after hours, don’t text them. If they prefer not to be met with spur-of-the-moment meetings, be mindful and offer them other methods of connecting when needed. You get the idea…

4. Schedule self-care and personal time as you would a meeting

We wouldn’t skip a meeting if a coworker or our boss scheduled one with us ahead of time, so why is it so easy for us to cancel “meetings” with ourselves? When we’re busy, it often seems that seemingly nonurgent, nonwork blocks of time are the first to take a backseat in an effort to maximize our time, which is a quick path to burnout. Commit to keeping those appointments with yourself to do what you know you need to in order to show up at your best (at home and at work)!

5. Take care of your health

Don’t let an overpacked schedule or stress stand in the way of your health or happiness. Skipping a doctor’s appointment, opting for convenient rather than healthy meals, skipping physical activity, or staying up past your bedtime in the effort to do it all at work can be harmful to your well-being and can lead to decreased productivity, poor emotional health, and even physical illness. Investing time in your mental and physical health is crucial to managing stress, preventing burnout, and gaining and maintaining a work-life balance.

6. Turn off as many notifications as possible

You know this. Are you doing it? Every ping is a distraction, and jumping from one task to another, even for a moment, ends up draining our time and energy in the long run. Commit to this for a week and see what you notice. Your brain will thank you!

7. Let go of perfectionism

As much as we’d love to produce perfect work all of the time, the reality is that we’re human. Performing perfectly and at the highest level, at all times, isn’t only unrealistic—it can bog you down and be a hurdle in your workday that can make moving on from tasks and letting go of work after hours difficult. Shift your mindset to the bigger picture, reevaluate if spending more time on certain tasks will actually create a better outcome, readjust your standards, and remember that you can be a high achiever without performing flawlessly at all times.

8. Reinforce the end of your workday and set expectations for other team members

As you near the end of your workday, be realistic about what you’ll be able to accomplish before you call it a day. Communicate this to the appropriate people and pick up where you left off tomorrow. Set expectations with your supes and coworkers ahead of time to protect your after-work time. Say something along the lines of “Feel free to leave me a message while I’m away, but please note that I will respond when I return to work tomorrow.” (Just because we live in a world where we can be accessed at all times doesn’t mean that we should be.) And if you find yourself having difficulty peeling yourself away from work tasks, it might be helpful to schedule after-work plans or activities to help you physically sign off from your day.

If you are having trouble disconnecting at the end of your workday, having a set routine or even designing a ritual to signify that work is over (for the day) can be a game-changer. As an example, my ritual is small and yet powerful. My desk and chair are such that I have to lower my chair as far as it will go in order for it to be able to fit under my desk and out of the way. I cannot work with my chair so low, so when I am done for the day, I tuck it away under my desk signaling my workday is done.

9. Take breaks to leave your work area for small periods of time throughout the day

If you know me, you know this is a biggie for me! When you find yourself with a full plate of work, it can be easy to convince yourself that you don’t have time for a break. Science has shown over and over that taking a break (even a short one), can restore motivation, increase creativity, boost productivity, and have a positive effect on your well-being. Taking quick breaks or actually taking a break from work to eat your lunch (without multitasking!) is an effective way to help loosen the grip of work stress and gain a feeling of more balance in your life. 

Dan