You hear it all the time. As individuals, we are busier than we have ever been before. We live in a society that values productivity and success. As a result, it can be difficult to fulfill your role both at work and at home. Often, people struggle to find the right balance, and end up prioritizing one over the other. Whichever way the pendulum swings, this can cause issues. But you shouldn’t have to choose between strained family relationships and poor performance at work! With the right tools and mindset, it’s possible to achieve a healthy balance between your family life and your career. 

Here are three simple tips for balancing and excelling at both:

1. Make a conscious decision to find balance

Before you can find balance, you need to realize you lack it. Consciously resolving to achieve work-life balance is the first step. Then, dig a little deeper. Identify where issues are arising. Are you staying late at work to get things done that you could’ve accomplished with a concerted effort during the day? Could you get in to work a half hour or hour earlier to make it home on time for dinner? It’s these little decisions that add up and create either problems or solutions. Figure out what your problems are and then think of solutions!

2. Establish boundaries between work and family

There is something to that age-old saying, “Don’t bring your work home with you.” Because when you do, you miss out on valuable time with your family. This goes both ways too. If you’re on your phone texting your significant other all day, your performance at work will suffer. In order to achieve balance, it’s crucial to establish boundaries between your work and your family life. Determine what actions are acceptable and what actions blur the line. For example, if you’re always on your phone at work, resolve to text and make calls during your coffee break or lunch break. Conversely, if you’re always checking your emails at home, decide to turn off your notifications after a certain hour or over the weekend. 

3. Accept that sometimes imbalance is unavoidable

Making an effort and setting boundaries will help, but, of course, it’s not always that simple. Sometimes you have an important deadline at work that requires the whole team to stay late. Sometimes your kid’s school play takes precedence over a weekly meeting. The important thing to realize is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Finding balance is, well, a balancing act! There will always be times when you have to prioritize your career or your family, and there is nothing wrong with that. The thing is, if you make an effort to practice balance most of the time, then your boss or your wife or your boyfriend will be a lot more understanding when there are times that you can’t.

We hope that these tips help you achieve a better balance between your career and your familial commitments, and ultimately, more happiness! 

If you’re looking for a rewarding career where work-life balance is encouraged, explore our open opportunities here!