How I Manage My Work Life Balance
Editor’s note: Last week we heard J.D. Meyer a Program Manager from Microsoft address his experience of dealing with work life balance. Today I am pleased to have Chip Hanna, from Corporate Sucks share his thoughts on the topic as well.
“I’m a busy guy”. When someone says this, I usually respond, “Are you bragging or complaining?”
When writing this post, I really had to ask that question to myself.
I like to wear my “Busy Badge” with honor – not because I just want to keep busy – but because of the things I’m accomplishing.
I would also like to think right next to my “Busy Badge” is a “Balance Badge.”
So what do I do to balance my life?:
1. Schedule As Much As Possible.
I try and set deadlines for myself, even when there is no one holding me accountable.
For example, no one tells me that a blog post over on CorporateSucks.com needs to be made. No one tells me that I need work out.
But I need to do both of those things to accomplish my goals (sharing my ideas and being super-human, respectively).
I also find fun activities that my friends would like (TCU Football, Go Frogs!) and plan them out in advance. I’ll adjust my deadlines to allow me to go to these activities.
2. Say No to the Good Things, So You Can Say Yes to the Great Things.
There are a lot of fun activities to do in life and there will never be a shortage of things to do. Facebook will always be there. Twitter will always be there. They are both there to steal your time.
Don’t get me wrong, I really like Facebook and Twitter, and it’s a big part of my day job. But, checking what’s happening on Facebook for 5 minutes can easily turn into an hour. If you need to check it, only check it a couple of times a day – instead of whenever you want to. You’ll be amazed at how much time you save.
Be careful before making a commitment. I have a friend who came to Fort Worth and said yes to every committee, council and volunteer opportunity she could find. She met a lot of great people, but was also over-extended. Since she learned that, she’s been very quick to say no to good things so she can say yes to the great things.
3. Volunteer for something.
Many studies have shown that those that volunteer are happier. Who doesn’t want to be happier? Not only does volunteering help your happiness, but it also introduces you to a group of people you would have probably never met otherwise. Just be careful to not overextend yourself (see point two).
I volunteer at my church, working with the children’s department. I get to meet amazing actors, people that work at Microsoft and lots of small business owners. Not who you would have thought, eh?
4. Take breaks
Take time to relax and spend time away from work, both in action and thought. This is probably the hardest habit for most people to acquire. We are always trying to figure out how we can be more productive – in terms of how can we answer more emails or write more blogs posts.
However, we should be capable of taking more breaks and being less productive (at least for bits of time).
When’s the last time you had a great idea? Most likely, it was when you were in the shower or going to the bathroom. For some reason those are the two places where great ideas come to me.
But it’s because I’m not thinking about anything else. My mind needs rest and space to think of great ideas.
When’s the last time you watched a movie without checking your phone or having your iPad by your side? Try it. It will open up new ways for your mind to work wonders.
5. Turn Your Phone on Silent When You’re With Friends or Family.
Obviously, there are going to be emergencies where the phone needs to be on. This needs to be the exception not the rule.
I was at lunch with six colleges the other day. Ironically, the two youngest people there (me and another co-worker) were the only ones NOT on their phone. I made a half-joke, “Hey, let me get out my phone so I can ignore everyone else, too.”
You go out to lunch to escape work for a hour, not bring it with you. See point four.
The same thing goes for your family and friends. It’s amazing how disruptive one person checking their phone can be. Your Words With Friends game can wait, I promise.
Your Turn
What work life balance tips do you practice? Share away in the comments below.
image courtesy of visionshare
Great tips!
I guess all of us have our share of ways to go about cutting out the distractions and maintain a balance between work and play.
For me, switching off from social networks, closing my chats or email accounts works best. And that surely is the time I can sit and write a great deal.
I don’t push myself too hard and prefer taking things as they come, as my best comes out when I am more at ease with my work and myself. And once am through with my work, then its family time or my time for me! Then I don’t touch work- so try to maintain a balance that ways.
Each one of us may have many chores to end, but the way we go about taking each task in hand, depends upon our circumstances and outlook to life.
Thanks for sharing
Harleena Singh@Freelance Writer recently posted..How to Instill Gratitude in Children
Thanks for your additions Harleena,
You certainly have some knowledge in the great arena of work life balance.
I like how you handle taking things as they come. It’s an excellent talent and ability to be able to adapt as well as you.
Bryce
Harleena beat me, but I just wanted to thank Chip for writing such a great piece here for our blog.
I love learning from our community so I have to thank you for that.
Hope to have you by again in the future.
Bryce
Great tips! I would add spending time in nature. I like to climb mountains, or hike around the bay. I’m super focused, and very busy, but balance can often times be found.
Antonia recently posted..Comment on Energetic Space Clearing by Antonia
Leave your work at work, that’s what i’ve learned that once you’re not working you can’t think about it and focus on what you’re doing instead
ella recently posted..Team Building Games for the Workplace
Great tips, Chip! I really love your second tip. Quite often, we always end up trying to grab on so much that when the big break comes, we have so much in our hands. In the end, we end up with meager results.
Since I work at home, I always keep a point that I don’t do any work during the weekends since that’s my time with the family. It can be quite challenging especially since all that separates me from my work is my computer and Internet connection. But as what your second tip suggests, it’s a matter of choosing of which is the greater option. Working is all good, but spending precious time with family is priceless.
Adeline Yuboco recently posted..Food and Wine Pairing: a Feast for the Senses
I ashamed to say this but I don’t have any tips. I’m as chaotic as one can be when it comes to work-life balance. I’m the kind of person that will work more then 12 hours per day for a hole week but when a friend suggests beer&party I’ll leave everything work related and just go.
Cristian Balau recently posted..I will create a Squidoo Lens for $25
I ashamed to say this but I don’t have any tips. I’m as chaotic as one can be when it comes to work-life balance. I’m the kind of person that will work more then 12 hours per day for a hole week but when a friend suggests beer&party I’ll leave everything work related and just go. And I’m pretty sure it works the other way around also.
Cristian Balau recently posted..I will create a Squidoo Lens for $25
Hi there, those are great tips to run a normal balanced life. I also try to prioritize things such that I’ do first the things that are more important to be accomplished.
Larissa recently posted..How to get rid of scars- fast and easy!
I like what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever work and coverage! Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve added you guys to my own blogroll.
Tia recently posted..exercise and asthma