What is work-life balance?
Many people are ‘time poor’, and when to comes to your family you are juggling not only yourself but everyone’s commitments. Most Australian’s work 50 hours a week, and that does not include travel time.
Work-Life Balance means that you have an equal share of time within all aspects of your life. And being aware that the balance is off track is the first step to maintain the right path again. Your life should have a mixture of fun, hard work, and family time without resulting in one getting more of your time than the others. We know, it’s not easy, especially when various members of your family have all types of commitments, but without maintaining this balance your health will be affected by either stress, depression, anxiety, and lack of sleep.
Here are 5 tips for a better work-life balance.
- Time management
There are now heaps of apps that can help with time management. If you are not a tech person then consider just reminders in your calendar or to-do lists. Once you set your tasks, review, and cut down or out the time-wasters. When you see it in front of you, it is easier to cut out what is not needed or prioritise the tasks that you have not done in a while.
- Set boundaries
Each one of your tasks should have a time limit and set aside a specific time for other activities. We are not saying, when the 1 hour is over you walk away from your family picnic to do work, it means that your priorities the important things in life with an afternoon or a ‘today we are off to the beach’, and then when you get home you can work or do chores.
- Maintain good relationships
Support all tasks by making sure that you prioritise time with family, friends, neighbours or loved ones with the equal time that you do with work. If you have good relationships all around, your stress levels will decrease and the ease of going from task to task becomes smoother. And the guilt does not set in.
- Focus on your health
Your health is your wealth. Regular exercise or physical activity has proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Healthy eating habits and getting enough sleep will help with maintaining energy levels. Make sure that your health is not affected.
- Have downtime
You need to set time to ‘recharge your batteries’ and that means finding the time to do something that interests you only. Schedule regular time off for yourself each week to read a book, play sport, or just do nothing. Enjoyment is the key here.
Where to get help if needed?
Finding a healthy balance between work and your personal life can be hard, but help is available. At WAYS our bulk-billed G.P services or our free counselling sessions are available to young people and their families. Please call us on Ph: 9365 2500 to be directed to one of our professionals.