How To Create A Good Work-Life Balance

Learn to strike the perfect work-life balance with these 9 realistic tips and reclaim control over your time.

There are 24 hours in a day, 8 of which you spend working, and the rest of which you’re supposed to spend living your best life.

Then why does it feel like every waking moment of your day revolves around your work, with little to no space for what truly matters to you?

You can try your best to not let the fear of missing out seep in, but it’s hard not to feel stuck when you’re locked with your computer all the time chasing deadlines.

The struggle is real, I know, but it’s not impossible to find that sweet spot between work and life.

You can have it all — good health, strong relationships, and a career that moves in the upward direction without demanding all your attention.

What will you need?

Just these 9 simple tips on how to create a good work-life balance, and a strong intention to make time for all those things that you’ve been putting on the back burner.

But first, pin this post, please!

Read on to stop fretting about work all the time and make space for everything and everyone you care about in life.

9 Tips For A Healthy Work-Life Balance

1. Create A Comfy Workspace At Home

Try as you might to keep your work limited to your office, there are going to be days when you need to open your laptop at home.

For those work-from-home days, you need a workspace that’s not in your bedroom or someplace where you spend your cozy time at home.

Choose a quiet, well-lit space where there are little to no distractions, and get yourself a table and an ergonomic chair.

Personalize your workspace with things that inspire you and make you feel comfortable, like plants, posters, and cute decor.

When you’re in this space, you can focus on just your work, and when you leave it, you can transition into your personal time.

2. Communicate Your Boundaries

Ever had people from work call you at home, ruining your moments of rest and relaxation?

Sometimes the calls are urgent, but most of the time, you know things can wait till office hours, yet still you find yourself engaging in work talk at home.

This is what happens when you fail to set clear boundaries.

If you want to create a separation between your work life and hours when you’re off the clock, it’s something you need to start doing.

Define your work hours and communicate them clearly to your colleagues and supervisors.

Set boundaries around technology use by avoiding checking work emails or taking work-related calls during evenings, weekends, and vacation time.

You can also tell your loved ones to not text you during your work time and to only call during your lunch break unless it’s an emergency.

3. Tackle Your Work In Order Of Priority

How smart are you about your working hours?

Are you prioritizing your important tasks first, or are you just grabbing whatever you can, always feeling like you’re behind your schedule?

To maximize productivity and minimize stress, it’s important to differentiate between your urgent and those that can wait.

The moment you sit down for work, create a checklist of things that need to be done.

Assess each task’s level of importance, consider deadlines, and evaluate the potential consequences of not completing them promptly.

Once you’ve identified the most important and time-sensitive tasks on your to-do list, tackle them first.

Even if you end up with an unfinished task on your list, you can schedule it for the next day instead of staying late at work, since the task will probably be of the least priority and can wait.

4. Schedule Regular Breaks

You don’t have to power through work without any pause. It won’t do your productivity or your mental health any good.

Take short breaks every hour or so to keep your focus fresh and avoid burnout.

During these breaks, engage in activities that help you relax and unwind, such as stretching, meditating, or taking a quick walk outside.

During longer breaks, you can catch an episode of your favorite sitcom or enjoy a cup of coffee while reading. Just don’t start something that you won’t want to leave.

Breaks should not be about distracting yourself, rather they should fuel you to keep going while also prioritizing yourself.

5. Set Realistic Expectations

We all want to be the best in our careers, but those who ultimately tick off all their goals are the ones who set realistic goals.

These people are also the ones who are able to make time for joy and fun in their personal lives because they’re not busy chasing stupid high numbers.

If you’ve been breaking your back chasing goals but not really getting anywhere, it’s time to start being honest with yourself about what can actually be achieved within a given time frame.

When working on a big goal, break it down into daily and weekly goals instead of running behind one big scary challenge.

Before committing to anything, assess the demands of your current workload and see whether there’s space for you to take something new.

And yes, don’t try too hard to impress your supervisors; it might cost you your social life and your authenticity.

You might like: How To Live A Quiet Life – 5 Simple Practices

6. Cultivate Hobbies and Interests

Your life outside work shouldn’t involve sleeping or just hanging out with loads of people (no matter how much you love them).

You need your me-time to make a connection with yourself and discover the person you are becoming with each passing day.

The best way to do this? Indulge in hobbies and interests that make you feel amazing.

This might be painting, sketching, learning music, going on bike rides, or creating deep journal entries. You could work on a fun side hustle too!

Always remember that leisure time is not a luxury. It’s something we all deserve to stay happy and keep that little kid in us alive.

7. Delegate Responsibilities

We all want to be superheroes in our story and take on all kinds of tasks, even the ones that are not ours to do.

But true wisdom and responsibility come from recognizing that you don’t have to do everything yourself.

There’s always an option to delegate some tasks and free up time for fulfilling activities.

When you find your workload increasing, take a pause, and check if there is something that you can delegate to your colleagues, family members, or professional services.

Trust in the abilities of others to carry out their delegated tasks effectively, and be willing to provide guidance and support as needed.

Handing some of your tasks to other people won’t make you any less able.

In fact, it’ll foster teamwork and collaboration in your workspace and also lighten up your load.

Bookmark now: How To Organize Your Life – 10 Helpful Tips That Work

8. Set Aside Time for Self-Care

Self-care involves indulging in feel-good activities that nourish your body, mind, and soul.

They are simple to do and don’t take a lot of time, but these activities, when done regularly, have the power to make you stronger and more independent.

Here are some of my favorite self-care habits:

Put on a face mask once a week
Go on long walks
Do a workout by GrowWithJo on Youtube
Sip herbal tea while watching an episode of a sitcom
Give yourself a manicure
Watch a rom-com on Sunday night
Make yourself a healthy breakfast and savor every bite
Drink your morning coffee while reading

Treat self-care as a non-negotiable part of your routine, just like any other commitment.

It’ll make you fall in love with your alone time and help you create a strong boundary between your work and personal life.

9. Spend Meaningful Time With Your Loved Ones

Your life away from work involves your close people.

Often, when you carry your work thoughts home with you, you might find yourself being detached from your family or getting into arguments with them.

You might even sit together doing nothing, just tapping on your phones and laptops while something random plays on the TV.

This needs to change, because your loved ones can actually help you transition from your focus zone to your relaxed self.

Make it a point to spend meaningful time with them and pour into your relationship by doing more stuff together.

Here are some ways you can do this:

Tell your family about your day and ask them about theirs
Have dinner together
Play a fun board game before going to bed
Have movie nights on the weekend
Go on walks together
Call your friends instead of texting
Play with your pet after getting home
Greet your loved ones with a hug in the morning

Master The Art Creating A Work-Life Balance

Achieving work-life balance isn’t about perfectly dividing your time between work and play.

It’s about finding what works for you, your unique circumstances, and your individual priorities.

It’s about setting boundaries, saying no when necessary, and carving out time for the things that truly matter.

Implement the strategies discussed in this post, and enjoy building a life with less stress and more joy.

You just read 9 ideas on how to create a work-life balance. Any thoughts you want to share? Drop a few words in the comment box. It’s always awesome to hear from you.

How To Create A Good Work-Life Balance – 9 Important Tips