Work-life balance has become a “buzz phrase” in today’s world as a growing number of us are feeling the crunch between taking care of our job duties and tending to our health and well-being. Unfortunately, as Nigel March painfully points out during his TEDxSydney talk from a few years back, there is so much “rubbish” talk about this topic that nothing ends up changing and the issue continues to grow.

In this short post we are going to offer some useful, tangible advice that will help you put your life back in balance, starting with the most important:

1. You Must Take Control

If one thing is abundantly clear, it’s that no one is going to allow you to achieve work-life balance other than yourself. Your employer, your co-workers, and even your spouse have no idea what your ideal work-life balance looks like – only you do.

Here are some things to consider when thinking about finding your balance:

• How much time do you want to spend working in a day?
• What activities do you enjoy partaking in? How much time do they require?
• Are you disciplined enough to see your work-life balance plan through?

If you lack the drive to strike that work-life balance for yourself, then your well-laid plans will end in disappointment and frustration. Commit yourself, and you will be able to take the next step.

2. You Must Be Realistic

Often, our long lists of goals and expectations are what sabotage our attempts to achieve work-life balance. On paper, you may have the perfect schedule laid out, but have you accounted for any little bumps that may encroach on the activities you have set up for yourself? Have you accounted for your shortcomings, like poor time management skills, that may interfere with your plans?

Trying to fit everything into a day is too short, but leaving these things for later – like when you retire – is too long. Find a middle ground, like going to the gym before work three times a week and once at your leisure during the weekend. Leave room for flexibility and don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t always hit that so-called perfect 50/50 balance.

3. You Must Get Support

The good news is that a mounting number of organizations and corporations are getting on board with “work-life” balance and are supporting it more than ever. But you should also get help and support from:

• Your co-workers
• Your friends and family
• Your spouse

Hart Partners helps Australian organizations of all sizes find their work-life balance through our comprehensive selection of accounting and business solutions. We take care of the work so that you can spend more time being productive while doing the things you love. We invite you to visit our “Services” page to learn more or to call today for more information.