What does it really mean to have a work-life balance? Figures show that South Africans work an average of 43.3 hours a week, leaving little time for the small moments that make a big difference.
Whether you’re perfect or perfectly imperfect, everybody deserves some “me” time, whether it’s enjoying a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper or squeezing in an after-work yoga class. You’d be surprised at the number of things you forget to do because your mind is just too occupied by something you should have let go of at 5 pm.
Finding enough hours in the day to fit in work, family and everything else can seem impossible, but there are ways you can make it easier for yourself and your client, according to Forbes.com:
Allow yourself to be perfectly imperfect
You need to stop trying to be perfect all the time if you want to avoid burnout, according to clinical psychologist and executive coach Marilyn Puder-York, author of The Office Survival Guide. Instead, she recommends striving for excellence.
Switch off
The invention of the smartphone and the growing trend of conducting business over Skype or WhatsApp means it’s not always easy to leave work behind. Switch off your phone or even just your alerts so you can enjoy your free time without worrying about work.
Get moving
Nearly half (47%) of South Africans have a sedentary lifestyle, according to research by the World Health Organisation. Exercise is a major stress reliever and an important contributing factor to health and happiness. Make time for it, even if it’s just a few minutes at a time spread through the day.
Be selfish with your time
We’re programmed to think that being selfish is a bad thing, but when it comes to being a good employee, spouse, parent or friend, “the better you are yourself, the better you are going to be in all those areas as well”, says psychotherapist Bryan Robinson, author of Chained to the Desk. Don’t feel guilty about cutting down on time-wasting activities and people.
Learn to let go
Take a step back and consider if the way you’ve been doing things is actually working for you. If that trip to the supermarket after work every day is adding too much stress to your life, ask your partner or spouse to take over this responsibility, even if it’s just a few times a week. Even small changes can have a big impact.
