How to find the right work-life balance and avoid burnout

We all wish we could have it all sometimes. We want to work harder so we can make more money, but that extra cash doesn’t mean much if we have to neglect our personal life and our loved ones to get it.

Sometimes, it feels like we have to be in two (or maybe more) places at once just to keep up with work and life: someone has to stay late at the office to meet tomorrow’s deadline. Or someone needs to pick up the kids from soccer practice, and then cook dinner, but all you really want to do is spend a night with Netflix and a box of chocolates. Finding the right equilibrium between our professional and personal lives is a constant battle, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer out there (trust us, we’ve looked). But here are a couple tips that might help you.

Set boundaries for yourself and your coworkers. Sometimes there is a lot of pressure, from ourselves or others, to always be available, especially with email, phones, and social media putting us just a few swipes away from working. But it’s important to have a routine and regular hours to set healthy boundaries between your work and your personal life. Consider not checking your work email when you’re out of the office, or even having separate devices for work and personal use, so that you’re not working late into the night or on your days off. Let your coworkers know when you’ll be accessible, so that you can be sure they know and respect your boundaries.

Make time for yourself and your loved ones. Just as you plan ahead and set schedules for your work day, be deliberate about making time for yourself, your friends, and your family. If you have time set aside to pursue your hobbies and spend time with your loved ones, they’re less likely to fall by the wayside, even if work gets hectic. Mark dates and family events on your calendar (yes, even if you live with them). Schedules might not seem very romantic, but they can help ensure you’re spending time doing what really counts.

Speaking of which, here at Everything Counts, helping people find the right work-life balance is a passion of ours. If you have any other ideas about or experiences with managing your work-life balance, please get in touch with us.