7 Ways to strike the perfect work-life balance

Work It Out: 7 Ways to strike the perfect work-life balance

Lim Han

31 May 2017

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Arrange one thing to look forward to each day
For some, work simply sucks the life and joy out of them. If you’re one of them, why not add colour back to your life by planning something exciting every day? It could be catching a movie with your friends, visiting a new café with you partner or simply marathoning a new television series. Whatever it is, this will not only motivate you to finish your work on time, but also grant you a much-needed respite from work.
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Keep your superiors informed
Unfortunately, your superiors don’t have telekinetic minds. So, if you have certain commitments during the weekend that cannot be forgone, you have to voice it out to ensure that you are not unfairly pulled away from your activities outside of work. Also, learn to say "no" to them if you really have too much on your plate. Of course, be polite about it and let them know as respectfully as you can.
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Plan your time
As they say, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Draw out a daily plan of your schedule and stick to it closely. This helps you remain on task and ensures that you complete your assignments on time. Once your pile of work is cleared, you know what that means - prompt dismissal from work! You can then go ahead and relish in your much-anticipated leisure time.
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Protect your free time
Whether it’s your lone travel time on the train to and from work, or your weekends, everyone has ‘alone’ time that they’re entitled to. As much as possible, try not to squeeze in your work into these slots. Give yourself a break and let yourself relish in your precious free time without interference from work – you deserve it.
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Don’t multi-task
If multi-tasking existed, Santa Claus would be real. Multi-tasking is a mere myth - humans are not programmed to perform tasks simultaneously. So, just concentrate on one thing at a time. For instance, if you’re spending time with your family, put aside your phone or laptop and give them your fullest attention. Work can wait, but your children won’t be at this precious age forever.
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Indulge in a vacation at least once a year
Why not make the most out of your leave by treating yourself to a relaxing vacation? You don’t have to go very far – you can even stay in your country if you’d like! But make it a point to pamper yourself with at least a week of holiday every year. Your body and mind would really appreciate a period of tranquility to recharge and rejuvenate. And, after all, your work isn't your life.
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Avoid bad lifestyle habits
All your efforts of achieving a perfect work-life balance would go to waste if your lifestyle isn’t in the right place. Bad lifestyle habits like sleeping late, eating irregularly or frequently indulging in junk food would most likely lead to poor health. How would you expect to enjoy life if you’re constantly plagued with illnesses? So, take care of yourself by adopting a healthy lifestyle and practising good habits.

Arrange one thing to look forward to each day

What’s work without life, and life without work?

As Rihanna says in her song: “Work work work work work.” And, if that doesn’t sum up our working lives, we don’t know what does. Many of us have been enslaved to our work – working OT almost every day, pulling all-nighters, and even having our weekends bombarded with work-related appointments. Our leisure time has almost become extinct, save for the fact that we have bits of spare time during our commute to and from work. So, just how does the perfect work-life balance come into the bleak picture?

Well, it’s simple – you have to take action. And, of course, by “action”, we don’t mean working some more. We’re talking about measures you can adopt to make the most of your free time and methods to ensure that your work does not step out of its boundaries. From communicating to your superiors to planning your time, there are a myriad of methods to take the reins of your career and attain the right balance between your work and your life.

Eager to turn your whole life around? Then hop right up to our gallery where we’ve compiled a list of steps to put you on the right path that leads to the perfect work-life balance!

Lim Han

Photos: Getty Images

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