Whether you like it or not, work is essential to life. Since work is such an important part of your life, it is easy to become consumed by it and forget about other important things, such as your family and friends, which makes seeking work/life balance so essential.
Why Having a Healthy Work/Life Balance is Important
Having a work/life balance is crucial for many reasons. When you give appropriate attention to both areas of your life, you might notice that:
- You may lower the feeling of the demands of your work life and home life being at odds with each other.
- You may avoid having to miss family or social events and work overtime for a deadline.
- You may lose less sleep at night or not have to eat poorly, because you don’t have enough hours in the day.
- You may manage the guilt that you aren’t putting in enough hours at work or giving enough time to friends and family.
- You may stop worrying about your job when you’re not at work.
- You may be able to take more vacation time or enjoy it more when you do.1
Three Steps to Work Toward a Healthier Work/Life Balance
While understanding work/life balance is essential, knowing how to get there is critical.
Step 1: Set Goals:
Come up with some goals that might help you gain the work/life balance you are looking for. These goals could be spending more time with family and friends, working less overtime, or planning a vacation where you don’t have to be available for work. Once you set the goal, come up with the steps you need to take to make that goal happen.2
Step 2: Separate Your Work Life From Your Home Life
This separation of work life from home life may be easier said than done if you have a job that brings a lot of stress; however, it is important to leave work in the workplace when you come home. This may mean silencing your phone or turning off your work email while at home, and telling your co-workers that you are not available after work hours.2
Step 3: Increase Your Efficiency When at Work
Next, you might want to find ways to improve your efficiency at the workplace. The more productive you are at work, the less you may have to worry about work when you are at home. If you complete more work during the day, you may eliminate overtime and any working from home. Find ways to work smarter or consider better ways of organizing your work so that you get the work done more efficiently.2
Finding the ideal work/life balance may help manage stress and might improve overall happiness in your career and personal life.
Important Disclosures:
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.
This article was prepared by WriterAccess.
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Footnotes
1 Why Work-Life Balance Is So Important—and How to Nail It
2 Why Work-Life Balance Is Important (With Benefits and Steps)
