Crafting a Life-First Approach: Building Your Work Around Your Life
We tend to fit life around our work as opposed to building work around our life. This means that we often struggle to find time to eat healthy, spend time with family and friends, and exercise. We often stop taking part in our hobbies because we just can’t find the time in our days. Let’s be real, there are a lot of tasks that HAVE to be done, so those that don’t fall into the category of “have to” get pushed aside.
The reality for most of us is that we have to make money - to eat, have shelter, and do the things that make working everyday worth it to us. So, how in the world do we make enough to live a comfortable lifestyle, make time for the things that “they” say will improve health outcomes, and do activities that we enjoy? Is work-life balance achievable?Here are 7 actionable steps to stop letting work dictate your life.
Reevaluate Your “Have To’s”
First, we need to reevaluate our priorities and what we consider “have to’s.” Too often, we neglect activities that nourish our well-being, dismissing them as non-essential. Have you ever seen a coworker’s standing exercise or lunch on their work calendar? Part of us might feel jealous. Another thought might be admiration that they have created that boundary and stick to it!
We can do that too! Did you just come up with reasons why it’s not possible? That’s okay. That’s the brain trying to help us. It’s good at telling us about rules, some that might not even actually exist. Here’s the thing, it is absolutely possible that you might not be able to get away for a one hour workout class in the middle of the day, but could you take a 15 minute walk? Those avoiding the summer heat, might say, “No, it’s too hot!” Could you walk inside? Instead of coming up with why something that is important to you can’t work, think about how you can make it work. When we think outside of the box anything is possible!
Sometimes, environments make it impossible to create work-life balance. Perhaps, you’re working 80+ hours a week with a long commute. That time severely cuts into your personal time. Is it worth it? Maybe, for you it is. We all have to evaluate our own needs and goals. Some people might find that they could pivot and work two full-time jobs and earn more money and potentially have more or less responsibility (whichever motivates you). Evaluating what is important to us can help us make these tough decisions.
Define and Protect Your Boundaries
It’s easy to start allowing our boundaries to be fluid. For example, we might start by blocking a lunch time with the intent to actually eat. Then we shift it, because it’s the only time everyone can meet or we work through it because we have to get something done. Soon, that calendar event is merely a suggestion; one that is rarely ever taken. Our personal appointments are appointments with ourselves and should be treated with the same respect as work commitments.
Additionally, we need to communicate our boundaries. Communicating our boundaries with employers and colleagues not only helps them understand your limits but can help you stick them. Setting and communicating specific working hours can help you create clear expectations and help you to fully enjoy your personal time.
Leverage Flexible Work Arrangements
Many employers offer flexible working arrangements with the increase of remote options. You can explore if remote work or flexible hours are an option. If they are not, but it is a benefit that is important to you, it may be beneficial to explore career opportunities that provide you with the flexibility that you need.
Prioritize Self Care
Self care looks different for everyone and your ability to prioritize your health and wellness should be allowed throughout your work day. Some people become overwhelmed with the thought of integrating self care into their life, but the reality is that self care can be very simple. It looks like
Taking a bathroom break when needed
Getting up to move after sitting for a long period of time
Looking away from your computer screen to follow the 20-20-20 rule
Taking time to hydrate and eat as needed
Not engaging in work activities or conversations outside of working hours
These are such simple steps that seem like common sense, but most of us neglect ourselves in the name of getting work done at all costs.
Set Realistic Goals
We are not machines. The belief that we can work for 8 or 10 or 12 hours (or longer) straight and consistently produce perfect outcomes is unrealistic. We are human. We need breaks. We will have bad days. If we’re not operating at 100%, that doesn’t mean we owe more hours to anyone. Take a moment to reflect on your perception of success. Are you driven by external validation, promotions, and attempting to be perfect? This can create a cycle where you are always chasing that next “thing” - whether a promotion, acknowledgment, or award. What are you actually trying to accomplish? Is success only defined in that way? More likely than not, your definition of success has nothing to do with those accolades.
Seek Support
Communicate when things feel like too much. You do not have to shoulder the responsibility alone! It is not unreasonable to say, “no” to work assignments when you don’t have the capacity to take on more. You can say, “I would be happy to take that on after I complete _______.” If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your work, talk to a supervisor. The conversation might sound something like, “I’ve been working extra hours lately to complete all of my projects. Can you help me figure out how to better prioritize these projects, so I can meet the deadlines within my working hours?”
Explore Work-Life Integration
Some people prefer to keep their personal and work life completely separate. If that works for you - great! If that is something that you struggle with, it might be beneficial to explore integrating your work and personal life as opposed to complete compartmentalization. If your position allows, you might flow from professional responsibilities to personal responsibilities throughout the day. This can reduce the need for maintaining strict separation for different tasks. Keep in mind that it can be easy to spend too much time on personal or professional tasks with these blurred boundaries, so it’s important to continually check in with yourself to see if your integration is out of balance.
In Summary
Building work around your life is a conscious design choice that takes effort and continual assessment. By assessing your priorities, setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and embracing flexibility, you can forge a path where work enhances your life rather than overshadowing it. Remember, now is the time to live!