Is one of your new year’s resolutions to have a better work/life balance? One of our former therapists, Erica McGinniskin, provides this guest blog with four simple strategies to achieve it. After returning to Australia earlier in 2014, she set up her own practice, Jump Start Osteopathy in Melbourne. For the original post on her website, click here.
4 Tips For A Better Work-Life Balance
Many people find it difficult to juggle different aspects of their lives and getting the right balance between work and life can seem challenging. Bringing more enjoyment into your life shouldn’t feel like a chore. Here’s some tips on a few small things you can do to make a difference.
1. Make time to schedule in the fun things.
Build more activities into your day that are important to you. Schedule some time for the things you love doing like spending time with family or friends, playing golf or football, reading, picnic in the park, taking photographs or whatever it is that makes you happy. This gives you incentive to manage your time well. Happiness increases productivity. Remember how your energy elevates when you are in a good mood compared to in a bad mood.
2. Drop activities that sap your time or energy.
Stop wasting time on activities that don’t add any value or excitement to your life. Minimise or cut out the time you spend on these activities that don’t enhance your career or personal life. We often get into habits that make us less efficient like spending time on the web or social media sites without even realising it. Imagine what you could do with that extra hour instead!
3. Be more active.
Exercise helps boost your energy and concentration levels. It may feel like you don’t have time in your busy schedule to fit this in but you will most likely find that you are more productive if you have exercised and will gain more time due to being more alert and thinking clearer.
4. A little more relaxation time.
You don’t necessarily need to make huge changes to improve your work-life balance. Maybe you could leave the office early one night a week. Start a hobby, plan a holiday, take a bath, listen to music or meditate. Even if it’s just 10 to 15 minutes here and there do something that helps you relax, recharge your batteries and ignite your fire.
