Achieving Balance

Everyone aspires to achieve balance between their work and home life. Follow these simple tips to help you achieve better balance.

1.  Keep an Agenda: Writing down all your appointments and project due dates will enable you to manage your time effectively and keep track of your commitments. Be sure to build in some “free” time into your day in case of an unexpected emergency.

2.  Prioritize, prioritize: Make a list of all the tasks that you have to accomplish and work through them depending on priority. Use the urgency vs importance matrix, a concept developed by renowned author Stephen Covey’s in his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 1989).

3.  Create a Buffer after Work: After work, take a walk, go to the gym or solve a crossword puzzle thus creating a buffer between work and home. By performing these activities you’ll be able to divert your mind from workplace worry and to focus on your family and home (Canadian Mental Health Association, Work/Life Balance Tips, 2011).

4.  Take an Active Break: Every few hours, step away from your desk to take a brief walk around the office or surrounding area. This will not only be beneficial for your health, but it will help you rejuvenate and refocus on the task at hand (Taking Active Breaks at Work, Government of Alberta).