Many professionals want to have a work-life balance. In the wake of 2020, exactly what that means has changed. Before the pandemic, work-life balance often meant having enough time away from the office to handle personal responsibilities, participate in hobbies, and spend time with loved ones. However, for those who have spent a year working from home, work-life balance may mean something different.
Achieving work-life balance isn’t always an easy feat, but it is possible. If you want to aim for it in 2021, here are some tips that can help.
Know What Balance Means to You
Before you take any steps, you need a solid understanding of what work-life balance actually means to you. Consider how you would spend your time in a “perfect” world, both personally and professionally. Envision an ideal weekday, weekend, career progression, family situation, or anything else that gives you insights.
After that, reflect on which of those is genuinely the most important to you. Put what you imagined in order, separating the must-haves from the nice-to-haves.
The goal isn’t to focus on creating “perfection.” Instead, it’s to understand where your priorities and dreams lie. How you would spend your time if you had full control over your schedule can tell you a lot, making it easier to figure out what balance means.
Set Appropriate Boundaries
Often, work-life balance is most easily disrupted when professional responsibilities leach into your personal time, something that may have occurred more frequently with remote workers during the pandemic. As a result, setting appropriate boundaries can be a crucial component of getting to a better place.
For example, you might want to make it a habit to completely shut down work-related technology when you’re off the clock. This includes everything from turning off your computer (if you work from home) to silencing notifications on your smartphone.
In many cases, you’ll also need to have a frank discussion with your manager about boundaries. Your manager’s expectations may play a role in the amount of leeway you have, as well as the nature of your position. As a result, it’s best to have a one-on-one conversation to determine what steps you can take to create much-needed separation between your personal and professional life.
Prioritize Self-Care
Self-care is crucial for maintaining your wellbeing, so it needs to be a priority. Make sure you block out time in your schedule for activities that leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated.
Healthy meals, quality sleep, and some exercise should typically be part of everyone’s wellness plan. Beyond that, it may depend on your personal preferences. Almost anything that leaves you with enough energy to handle your professional and personal responsibilities should be on the table, allowing you to create a custom approach that works best for you.
Ultimately, the tips above can make work-life balance easier to achieve in 2021. If you’d like to find out more, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.
