Written by Malyka Cardwell, MFT.
Originally published on Philadelphia MFT.
Have you ever found yourself wishing for more hours in a day? Are you having a hard time leaving your work in the office or leaving your home for work? Do your loved ones feel that your profession takes precedence over them?
If any of these struggles resonate, you are most likely having a hard time maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Figuring out the proper balance to keep your professional life intact and your social support system happy can be a daunting task. Here are few tips to help better achieve the balance between work life and personal time:
1. Learn the importance of saying “no”.You are not going to be able to do everything and you should not feel pressured to do so. Sometimes it is important to limit your interactions. Do not feel guilty because you missed a social outing or could only work four days of overtime instead of your usual five.
2. Get active. Incorporate a little exercise into your routine and watch how your energy throughout the day increases.
3. Start small. It’s unrealistic to try and make huge changes to your schedule. Take it slow at first and expand after you have effectively incorporated the small changes. If your ultimate goal is to eat dinner with your family every night, start by picking one to two days out of the week to leave the office early.
4. Do not forget about your own needs. Do not get so caught up in pleasing your job and your friends and family that you forget to cater to your own needs. If you are not your best self, you cannot give anything substantial to anyone else.
5. Balance your schedule. It is easier to enact a work-life balance if you can see how it would look. Schedule your professional meetings and also personal outings. Make sure to include activities that you genuinely enjoy.
Finding a workable balance between a career and a social life is difficult for most people. If your lack of balance is affecting your job performance, your relationships, or yourself; it may be time to seek outside help. The therapists at Philadelphia MFT are skilled in helping people work through these feelings, do not hesitate to contact us.
