Work-life balance is achievable with these tools

We understand that striking a perfect work-life balance can seem hard, even impossible. Today’s work-life culture means that you are always online, always within reach and therefore; always performing. So how do you find the tools it takes for you to have a good work-life balance, where you reward yourself and your family while enjoying your work?

One strategy could be to fully embrace the technological possibilities and accept the fact that we are always connected.

Technology offers many possibilities for automation, working smarter and leading a more carefree life, and if used the right way, you can let technology work for you, not against you. That being said, having set time slots that are “tech-free” or where you are not connected could be a great relief as well.

In general, your job takes up a lot of time and energy in your life. Your job is part of what creates your identity and gives you a purpose in life. So finding the right balance between work and family, and being comfortable in both your professional and personal role, is essential for your well-being.

Seven great tools for increasing work-life balance

Achieving a healthy work-life balance means managing your professional and personal life in ways that keep your energy flowing, your mind and body healthy and your whole self happy and content.

These seven tips for better work-life balance are a good place to start, if you want to focus on leading a more balanced and healthy life:

1) Learn to let go

Many people tend to be perfectionists at work and can take on too much responsibility in their tasks. It is natural for us as human beings to seek perfection and try to perform our best – it increases our social acceptance and rewards us with recognition. But sometimes you need to let things go and try not to seek flawlessness all the time. It can be a big stress factor and no one can deliver perfection all the time.

Your own expectations towards yourself will always increase accordingly as you perform better and you will be stuck in a never-ending spiral where you will never find true satisfaction.

2) Take care of your mental health

You have probably heard it before, meditation is extremely powerful when it comes to unplugging and re-balancing yourself before or after a hard day at work. Use techniques like breathing exercises or mindfulness to get maximum effect from your meditation – and you can even use it during your workday when you have the time. Just five minutes away from the screen where you focus on nothing else but your own breathing will do you wonders!

3) Stay in shape (or try at least)

You do not have to be super fit or a marathon runner in order to live a stress-free life. The fact is, just a little bit of high-intensity workout releases dopamine and makes you happy – it is a quick fix if you feel low on energy.

Working out does not have to take a lot of time; you can start by just taking the stairs once in a while and not the elevator. Instead of your coffee number ten in the afternoon, try replacing it with a water and an apple. Small steps are important in order to succeed.

 

4) Ask yourself if you are the right place

Many companies today prioritize work-life balance and set up programs in order to make life more balanced for their employees. Ask yourself what your workplace does in order to create work-life balance for you. Do you have e.g. flexible hours, good vacation cover, maternity/paternity leave, security in employment or perks like a gym membership? If not, maybe your workplace does not prioritize work-life balance at all.

Check out Forbes’ list of the 25 companies with the best work-life balance

5) Take time out for yourself, your family and friends

You need to nurture all the important relationships in your life – including the one you have with yourself! Of course, you need to work overtime once in a while, but if your personal relations suffer too much you will be unhappy. By making your personal relations a priority, your productivity and effectiveness on the job will increase.

Check out this study made on how being happy at work makes you more productive.

6) Communication is the key

Be good at communicating your limitations. Tell when you are available for what – both to your family and friends, and to your boss at work. This will give you the freedom to work inside clearly set boundaries and both your family and boss will respect you for having a clear structure in your life.

If you are unsure of how to communicate with your boss, read these 8 tips on how to communicate effectively at work with your boss.

7) Stop wasting time at work!

All big companies that have programs for quality of life, have a focus on time management in relation to your professional and/or private life, and they might even have “employees’ efficiency” programs. Apart from making you more effective, it can actually add more purpose and meaning to your work-life when you focus on your cores tasks and what you are good at.

When you are productive and capable at work, you feel more balanced and happy! So try not to waste time on tasks that are not fruitful.

Be more productive at work and spend less time on tedious tasks

Templafy’s solutions makes you more efficient and productive at work. You get more time to yourself and to do more of the meaningful tasks that give you energy and helps you lead a more balanced life.

By automating brand compliance and streamlining how users create and edit files, Templafy frees up time and make you work with more productivity. The tools help the whole company work better, smarter and faster!