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Balance does not mean equalize. It is not a realistic expectation to think that you will spend an equal amount of your waking hours working and not working. There will be moments when your professional life represents\u00a0a heavier weight and moments when your personal life needs more attention. The goal is to be able to recognize what area of your life needs more of your time and be able to accommodate that need.<\/p>\n
Set Boundaries<\/strong><\/p>\n Boundaries are needed both for yourself and others that you work with. With the prevalence of smartphones, it is easy to constantly be \u201cworking\u201d on some level. However, in order to achieve balance there must be times when you disconnect. For example, do not allow yourself to check email during dinner with family or while helping your kids with their homework. Also, don\u2019t allow others to expect that you are available 24 hours a day. If customers or colleagues think it\u2019s acceptable to call you at 11pm, they will. Setting firm boundaries for when you are,\u00a0and aren\u2019t, available will help you feel more relaxed during your time \u201coff the clock.\u201d<\/p>\n Schedule Personal Time<\/strong><\/p>\n Put time on your calendar for the important personal things in your life. Whether it\u2019s exercise, date night, or your kid\u2019s soccer game, purposefully scheduling this time will help to ensure that you actually follow through. Remember, these events are just as important as a business meeting.<\/p>\n Use Your Vacation<\/strong><\/p>\n We all need to step back from time to time, so it\u2019s important that you use your vacation days. You don\u2019t have to plan a week-long escape to a tropical paradise (although if you can afford it and have the time, we strongly support this idea). Even a \u201cstaycation\u201d can have positive\u00a0effects on your mindset and help to prevent burnout. Even one day away from the office can help you feel refreshed. If you are so consumed by work that you can\u2019t take one day, you need to step back and reexamine the bigger picture.<\/p>\n Delegate Effectively<\/strong><\/p>\n You do not have to complete every task that needs to be done. This is true for both your professional and personal life. Learn to delegate responsibilities to your team members and colleagues. This will empower them while simultaneously taking tasks off your plate. In your personal life, consider delegating household chores. If you have the ability to hire a housekeeper or a landscaping service, do so. This will free up personal time and allow you to do things you truly enjoy.<\/p>\n Establish Realistic Expectations<\/strong><\/p>\n There is always more work to do and there is always more you can do within your personal life. You need to establish realistic expectations for both areas of your life. Don\u2019t expect to complete a month\u2019s work of work within a week and don\u2019t expect to be able to be the \u201cperfect\u201d husband, father, friend, son, and so on.<\/p>\n Work-life balance is not an exact science and no one strategy works for everyone. The ultimate goal is to make sure that both your work and personal priorities are being met. Once you have achieved this, you have achieved your version of work-life balance.\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We all want to have successful careers. While reaching your goals may require longer hours, it is still possible to achieve balance in your life. Here are our tips for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,58],"tags":[89],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n