7 Steps to Achieve a Balance Between Work and Personal Life as a Student
The search for a balance between work responsibilities, academic duties, and personal affairs divides thought into two poles in modern society. Some argue that achieving a positive connection between work and personal life is the key to a happy and productive life, while others believe that this concept is not possible today.
The world is constantly evolving technologies and with the ubiquitous Internet to set a clear boundary when you work, and when you spend time with family, friends, it becomes increasingly difficult. In addition, career development is often associated with the need to work overtime and solve numerous and complex problems.
There is an opinion that you will not do your job well if this job is the only thing you have in life.
Undoubtedly, some people work successfully and at the same time lead a decent personal life. How to achieve this?
Consider 7 steps to achieve a balance between work and personal affairs that can help improve health, productivity, and happiness.
1. Learn to Say No at Work
If you are an ambitious, talented, and efficient employee, you are definitely ready to participate in various projects. Your boss and colleagues often ask you different questions because they know that the work you do is of good quality. If you take the initiative, you can become the main executor of urgent tasks that must be completed “yesterday”.
You need to clearly explain why you will not be performing an additional task in this situation.
2. Create a Flexible Schedule with a Broader Perspective
When making plans for the day, try to make them not too rigid and flexible. Planning everything to the nearest minute is pointless. Keep certain intervals between consecutive events in the calendar. Consider the need for breaks during which you can break away from work, relax and unwind. In addition to professional responsibilities, pay attention to those that relate to your loved ones and personal life.
Consider the schedule for the month. Consider professional and personal issues. Don’t be afraid to spend more time working if you really need to. But remember that such difficult days must be compensated by rest. Allow yourself to relax, pursue hobbies, spend time with family and friends.
The approach to the inclusion of personal issues in the schedule ensures that you do not forget about them in the hustle and bustle of work. Define periods, for example, just before or after work, and add them to your daily schedule to allow for additional interaction with your loved ones.
3. Talk to Your Boss and Set Flexible Working Hours
If you work full time, you have time and specific organizational rules. The modern world is changing rapidly. Mobility and new technologies now allow you to work remotely, in which case you are not tied to the office. In addition, flexible working hours help many employees in developed economies to achieve a positive work-life balance.
If you have the opportunity to use remote work and flexible working hours at work, do not miss this chance. Doesn’t your company practice this yet? Talk to your boss and suggest this idea. You need to prepare a rationale for flexible scheduling or remote work and have a clear plan of what and when you will do and what the consequences of remote work will be. Talk and discuss mutually beneficial terms for you and your employer.
4. Be More Energetic and Invest Time in Physical Activity
This step requires time and extra effort. But it is important to find a place for it in your schedule. When you start training, you will develop endurance, which will bring many benefits in the future. Your energy level will be higher and you will have more strength to perform other tasks. Due to physical training, productivity will also be higher. Strength training, running, swimming, fitness, yoga – choose what you like.
Regular exercise improves not only health but also mental activity, memory, and concentration. This will be especially useful at the beginning of the day. In addition, physical effort reduces stress.
5. Be Aware of Innovations and Use Them to Your Advantage
In today’s world, we are all slaves to technology. Having a cell phone or laptop even after leaving the office, you can still do your job. This, of course, has benefits, but on the other hand, has a negative impact on the personal life and family relationships.
When you need to focus or spend time with family and friends, you should completely turn off all phones, tablets, or laptops. If you spend time with children, do not send emails or make business calls. There are times in life when you just need to turn off the phone.
6. Get Rid of Unproductive Offers and People Who Take Away Your Energy
Many devote their time to completely unnecessary and useless actions, as well as to people who take away energy without giving positive emotions.
Identify what is most important in your life. Make sure the list reflects your priorities, not someone else’s. It is important that you evaluate and prioritize your personal and professional activities. Then give up the realization of those who have no value and “steal” your time.
You will also have to break off relationships or limit contact with people who take away energy and hinder your development.
7. Forget About Perfectionism
Some people have a tendency towards perfectionism and want to do everything perfectly. This may seem like a good thing, but it often gets in the way. You waste a lot of time striving for perfect solutions when the achieved result is sufficient. Sometimes perfectionism can turn into workaholism.
Life is getting more complicated and you have more and more responsibilities. In such circumstances, it is very difficult – both neurologically and mentally – to maintain this habit of the ideal. Give up perfection, strive for continuous improvement and development, not to achieve the perfect result.
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