Mid Career - Balancing Work and Family

Achieving a balance between work and family is important to your success and overall quality of life. Finding a healthy work-life balance can be challenging when your work commitments continue into your personal time. Below are some tips you can use to achieve work-life balance and.

What is work-life balance?
Work-life balance is how you prioritize the time and energy you commit to your work and personal life and encourages you to divide your time in a way that is best for you. Achieving a healthy balance between work and life doesn't mean an equal balance, and the ideal work-life balance can vary. As priorities change, how you balance your work and personal commitments may also shift over time.

Why is work-life balance important?
The benefits of prioritizing work-life balance include increased productivity, higher work engagement, reduced stress and more time to devote to leisure activities. Employees who can find a healthy balance between work and life are generally happier, healthier, more focused and less likely to miss work.

Tips for achieving work-life balance
Like in developing new habits, achieving and maintaining work-life balance requires time and dedication. At times, you may find yourself committing more time to one thing than the other, but the goal is to find a healthy balance that works best for you. There are many different strategies for achieving a healthy work-life balance, including:

1. Limit nonessential activities
   It can be tempting to engage in activities that limit the amount of time you have to work on more productive tasks without even realizing it, such as checking personal email, browsing social media and surfing the Internet. To better prioritize your time at work, consider assessing your daily activities to determine which are least productive. Minimizing how much time you spend on these activities can have a positive impact on your productivity and well-being.

2. Learn when to say “no”
   It can be challenging to say “no,” especially when you're saying it to your boss or supervisor. However, learning when to say “no” can be essential to your work-life balance. When your answer is always “yes” to a task or project, you may start to feel overwhelmed by your increasing workload, which could result in stress and reduced productivity. To avoid this, evaluate your schedule and make sure there's room before taking on additional work. If you don't think you can take on another task, explain why to your boss and thank them for considering you.

3. Establish boundaries and unplug
   Modern technology has made it possible for employees to remain connected to their work through their mobile phones and computers. While this allows employers to offer flexible work schedules, it also means employees are accessible 24-hours-a-day, often taking work home or checking emails after normal business hours rather than waiting until they get back to work the next day. It's important to establish boundaries on your availability after hours and leave work at the office.

4. Communicate your needs
   Having open communication with your manager is key to achieving a work-life balance. If you're struggling with balancing your work and personal life, be honest with your manager and voice your needs. If you need to adjust your schedule or redistribute your workload, disclose those concerns and discuss possible solutions for managing your priorities.