What is the key to achieving work life balance? 

Part of the North American philosophy is to live for work because it seemingly feels like we have no choice. With cost of living rising, we all feel the pressure to keep up by taking on more work. No matter how many hours you put in, it often feels like it’s not enough. So how can we begin to shift our mentalities to a healthier, more balanced way of life? 

With bills piling up, and necessities like gas and groceries rising in price, it can be daunting to think that you can afford moments of pleasure when there’s so much to do and pay for. But striving to achieve work life balance is not only the key to your happiness, but it inadvertently increases productivity for employees and employers. I’m all about the grind and doing as much work as possible, but I learned from a young age how important it is to schedule in “you” time and pursue things outside of work that fuel your drive, soul, body, and creativity. 

Growing up with two full-time working immigrant parents in Sydney, Australia, taught me that vital lesson. My parents were up at 5 am every day and home by 6:30 pm, and despite how busy they were, my mom always made time for physical activity, family and hobbies. My mom is an engineer, but for as long as I could remember, during evenings and weekends, she would go to art classes, paint at home, read, take courses to expand her mind, and learn new skills and exercise. Despite the hardships she endured of being a full-time engineer and trying to raise two young girls with our dad, she never let that get in the way of doing things that fuelled her. My dad would also participate in the family stuff and exercise, but he carried the stress of work much more with him and had a hard time letting go. Watching two people in the same household with the same responsibilities approaching life so differently stuck with me. My mom was always a much calmer and happier person when we were growing up. 

So no matter how hard I work now, I always set aside time, whether five minutes one day or hours the next. I always focus on doing things that make me happy in between the work chaos.

Here are five tips I’ve found work for me when trying to achieve work life balance.

1. Be realistic about your schedule and plan ahead with work so you know exactly what you can accomplish in an allocated amount of time. If I know I have a list of ten things to get through, I write it all out the night before, then make my way down the list with mini breaks in between to breathe. Whether it’s a ten-minute break to call a friend or family member, or a thirty-minute lunch where I put work aside, I allow myself those breaks without feeling guilty. 
2. Make your health a priority. If something is bothering you, whether physically or mentally, dedicate time to go and see a professional. It’s okay to put yourself first.
3. Don’t spend too much time on social media. Try taking breaks from the apps you frequently find yourself on by deleting them off your phone for a week or so. Unless it’s for your job, social media can be a very toxic place that sucks you in for hours and impacts your mental health.
4. Take a vacation. Not everyone can afford the luxury of going on vacation, but even a mini break close to home can do wonders for the soul. Go camping, visit a friend or family member from out of town, or budget to save for a trip you’ve wanted to go on. A change of environment can help you to decompress and reset. 
5. Set boundaries for your employer and for yourself. Whether you work for someone or yourself, it’s essential to distinguish between when you’re on for work and when you’re off. A lot of self-employed people may struggle with this as their business relies on them, but you know your business better than anyone. So allow yourself to work during your most productive hours and try not to feel guilty when you take an hour or two, or a weekend to focus on yourself and what makes you happy. 

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