Nowhere is the need for balance more apparent than when we speak about balancing relationships and work. Work is essential for paying bills, having luxuries, and being able to live the life you want. However, fewer people today are living that life, even though they are working more. Its not because they dont have the things that they need; its because they dont have the relationships that they need. Their work has become their life and their life has become almost non-existent.
How many times have you gone to a restaurant and spent more time gazing at your smart phone than gazing into your lovers eyes. At night, do you go to bed later than your significant other on most nights, or possibly never go to bed at the same time because youre watching up on work If you can remember the subject of your last meeting but cant remember the last movie you saw with your sweetie, then your life and your work are out of balance. If you dont balance them again, you just might find yourself facing the prospect of having all work and no relationship at all.
If youre struggling with how to maintain a healthy balance between your life and your work, and you really do want to change, the following strategies can be quite effective for finding a little work/life equilibrium.
Start by managing your time by setting time budgets. First you'll need to correctly and fairly assess the time it takes you to complete a project. Once you can do that, you need to make a time budget for that task and stick to it. If you budget a task for 2 hours, then set an alarm for 2 hours. When it goes off, youre done. Even if the task isnt finished, you must force yourself to put it aside and do something with your significant other. Unless theres a major deadline (and their usually isnt), you can go back to it later, but devote some time to your relationship now.
Take time to do nothing with your spouse. I know that might sound counter-productive, but trust me. Most days, especially if you have kids, there are just too many things to do between work and home. Running around trying to get everything done can be exhausting and, at the end of the day, you realize that tomorrow you have to get up and do it all over again. Instead of trying to get it all done as soon as possible, why not take a little time during the day (or night) to do absolutely nothing together. Lay in bed and cuddle, or sit on the back porch and swing, or just hold each other and watch the day pass by. Youll be surprised how much closer you feel, even if its only for 20 or 30 minutes a day.
Have some FUN. Work, unless you are one of the very few who really love what you do, isnt a lot of fun. Its downright stressful most days, and it's worse on others. If you bring that stress home with you, things are not going to be easy. Instead, why not do something with your loved ones that is completely silly, zany, or stupid. Eat whipped cream right from the can; have a pillow fight; or make a crank call together to your old Aunt Patricia. Laughter is the greatest way to zap stress, and laughing together will bring you closer together.
Balancing life and work can be a hassle if you let it be, or it can be one of those little challenges that makes your relationship stronger. Only you have the power to make it happen, one way or the other.
How many times have you gone to a restaurant and spent more time gazing at your smart phone than gazing into your lovers eyes. At night, do you go to bed later than your significant other on most nights, or possibly never go to bed at the same time because youre watching up on work If you can remember the subject of your last meeting but cant remember the last movie you saw with your sweetie, then your life and your work are out of balance. If you dont balance them again, you just might find yourself facing the prospect of having all work and no relationship at all.
If youre struggling with how to maintain a healthy balance between your life and your work, and you really do want to change, the following strategies can be quite effective for finding a little work/life equilibrium.
Start by managing your time by setting time budgets. First you'll need to correctly and fairly assess the time it takes you to complete a project. Once you can do that, you need to make a time budget for that task and stick to it. If you budget a task for 2 hours, then set an alarm for 2 hours. When it goes off, youre done. Even if the task isnt finished, you must force yourself to put it aside and do something with your significant other. Unless theres a major deadline (and their usually isnt), you can go back to it later, but devote some time to your relationship now.
Take time to do nothing with your spouse. I know that might sound counter-productive, but trust me. Most days, especially if you have kids, there are just too many things to do between work and home. Running around trying to get everything done can be exhausting and, at the end of the day, you realize that tomorrow you have to get up and do it all over again. Instead of trying to get it all done as soon as possible, why not take a little time during the day (or night) to do absolutely nothing together. Lay in bed and cuddle, or sit on the back porch and swing, or just hold each other and watch the day pass by. Youll be surprised how much closer you feel, even if its only for 20 or 30 minutes a day.
Have some FUN. Work, unless you are one of the very few who really love what you do, isnt a lot of fun. Its downright stressful most days, and it's worse on others. If you bring that stress home with you, things are not going to be easy. Instead, why not do something with your loved ones that is completely silly, zany, or stupid. Eat whipped cream right from the can; have a pillow fight; or make a crank call together to your old Aunt Patricia. Laughter is the greatest way to zap stress, and laughing together will bring you closer together.
Balancing life and work can be a hassle if you let it be, or it can be one of those little challenges that makes your relationship stronger. Only you have the power to make it happen, one way or the other.
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