Struggling to find work-life balance?

Start with the basics of mindfulness. Mindfulness involves being present and fully engaging in the moment without judgment. Practice simple techniques like deep breathing or short meditations to center yourself. In my experience, even a few minutes of mindfulness each day can drastically improve your ability to manage stress and stay focused, helping you navigate the demands of both work and life more effectively.

Having awareness of what is happening around you and what's happening to you holistically. I was raised with strong Christian upbringing and only later in life do I appreciate the value of Mindfulness. Doesn't matter what religion or culture you believe or identify as, this Mindfulness applies to all on this planet. Do a self check in, really just take a few minutes to observe what's happening in your workspace. Are you ok enough, what's your energy levels like. Set alarms to take a break. Check your workload vs the time it takes to get it all done and what time you have. Are you able to complete it all or is it time to request support in due time or set expectations to extend due dates. Review what you doing, restructure as needed.

Finding a balance in life requires taking stock of what time is spent on and knowing one´s priorities, obligations, and passions. Asking "do I spend my time well"; "do I allow time for reflection and rest"; " am I present in what I do" can be a good place to start. Such questions can be that start of becoming more aware of how you live your life - and if you need to make any changes to live in better balance with your values and your purpose. Bringing attention to the moment, through feeling your breath or your senses, can be a great way to start to become aware of what thoughts, emotions, and activities rule your life.

I encourage you to start by giving yourself permission to prioritize self-care. Begin by setting boundaries—both at work and at home—to carve out dedicated time for relaxation and activities that recharge you. Remember, balance isn't about dividing your time equally between work and life; it's about being present and fully engaged in each moment, whether you're at work or enjoying your personal time. Practice mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing or meditation to help center yourself amidst the hustle and bustle. Small, consistent steps towards balance can lead to significant improvements in your overall well-being

If you're good with setting boundaries, you'll never have to worry about work-life balance anymore! It's not about "set it" and "forget it", but mindfully practising it. → Identify Your Priorities Take some time to reflect on your priorities both at work and in your personal life. → Create a Schedule • Blocking out time for work tasks, meetings, and deadlines. • Allocating specific times for personal activities, such as exercise, hobbies, and family time. → Learn to Say No It’s important to admit that you can’t do everything. Learning to say no is an effective way to protect your time and energy. → Review Your Boundaries Work-life balance is an ongoing process so reassess your boundaries to ensure they continue to fit your needs.

Set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Define your work hours and stick to them, communicating these boundaries to your colleagues and family. Personally, I found that setting a specific end time for my workday helped me disconnect and enjoy my personal time more fully. Boundaries prevent work from spilling over into your personal life, ensuring you have time to recharge.

Prioritize your tasks by focusing on what truly matters. Use techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by urgency and importance. From my experience, prioritizing tasks helps manage workload and reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed. By tackling high-priority items first, you can ensure that critical tasks are completed while still having time for personal activities.

Engage in activities that rejuvenate you, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies. Prioritize sleep and maintain a healthy diet to keep your energy levels up. Take short breaks throughout the day to relax and recharge. Practice mindfulness to stay present and reduce stress. Reflect on your day and acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how small.

Finding a balance between work and personal can be challenging. However, having a mindfulness practice is a game changer. Creating space from work. Allowing for a personal life. Starting the day with mindfulness, is a form of self care. Practicing self care reduces stress. Keeping us in the present moment. Self care is oxygen for the soul. Having breaks throughout the day is vital. These breaks give the brain and body a chance to recharge. Even a five minute of walk outside is enough to recalibrate. By having a self care routine. Helps us start the day with a positive attitude. Having a self care routine at night. Helps to release the day. Reading for a few minutes after work. Is enough to transition from work to personal.

Incorporate self-care rituals into your daily routine. This could include exercise, reading, hobbies, or simply taking time to relax. I make it a point to start my day with a short walk and end it with some quiet reading time. These rituals help maintain mental and physical health, making it easier to balance work and life.

I have the perfect work-life balance, but ONE element could derail it all! Every morning, at 8am I go for a run for 30-50 minutes. I shower, get dressed and head down to my office at around 9am. Rarely is a 9am call scheduled, and so I kick off my day with goal-setting and reflections. Now, managing expectations is key to achieving all of this. Communicating effectively while listening to other people's needs is crucial. If someone needs me at a 9 a.m. call, will I be there? Dam right! But I need to know in advance. Will it disrupt my day? Not really, because mindfulness helps you accept situations as they are. This mindful approach fosters understanding and compromise, ensuring everyone’s needs are met without overextending yourself.

Manage expectations by communicating openly with your employer and family. Be clear about your availability and the time you need for personal activities. I’ve found that setting realistic expectations with both my boss and family members reduces stress and prevents conflicts. When everyone knows what to expect, it’s easier to maintain a healthy balance.

Embrace flexibility in your approach to work and life. Understand that some days will be more work-heavy, while others will allow for more personal time. I’ve learned to be adaptable and adjust my schedule as needed, which has helped me stay balanced even when unexpected demands arise. Flexibility allows you to respond to changing priorities without feeling overwhelmed.

Finding work-life balance can be tough, but mindfulness can help. Start by setting clear boundaries between work and personal time. Practice being fully present in each moment; when working, focus on tasks at hand, and when off work, engage in activities that recharge you. Prioritize tasks and delegate when possible. Schedule regular breaks to prevent burnout and incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation or deep breathing into your routine. Reflect on your values and ensure your time aligns with them. By staying mindful and intentional, you can create a healthier balance between work and life.

Integrate activities you love, not just the ones you have to do. Building enjoyment into your schedule, not just work tasks, is crucial for true balance. Mindfulness helps you identify what brings you joy and make space for it. Here's how: Identify your "joy-generators": What activities energize and uplift you? Make a list! Block time for joy: Schedule these activities in your calendar, just like work meetings. Treat them as important appointments for your well-being. Start small: Can't carve out a big chunk of time? Even a 15-minute walk in nature or a quick call with a loved one can make a difference. Remember, a happy you is a more productive you, both at work and at home.

It is always worthwhile to mindfully and compassionately check in with your own wellness and work-life balance by completing a health or wellness wheel. Wellness wheels in which you can rate each segment from 1-10 and then colour each segment in, matching the numeric rating you attribute to each segment (1 -10 in career, relationships, leisure, money, etc.), is in itself a wonderful creative mindfulness practice. Once all the wheel segments are coloured in with a different colour, to the rating you feel satisfied with, in this 'audit' of your wellness, you are able to mindfully reflect on which areas of your life need more kind attention and presence. It's a wonderful mindfulness practice.

I think it's important to define for yourself what "work-life balance" means. Being honest with yourself can reveal that you may have unrealistic expectations. Work-life balance is not a static state; it is a constantly changing process. It’s like a seesaw, where one part outweighs the other, but after some time, the balance shifts. So, it's important not to strive to "achieve" balance but rather to "regulate" it. Regular reflection and mindfulness practices can be very helpful. It's worth reflecting on questions such as: - What do I need to feel more satisfaction and meaning in life? - How do my current routines and habits impact my health (mental, physical, spiritual)? - What boundaries do I need to set to protect my personal time?

I like to think of it as work-life focus. This helps me realize that I have a choice what and when to focus on things. I give myself permission to work more, or less as I need to allow me the ability to focus on other things as well. It’s not a perfect balance…but it can be a perfect focus.