Today, work-life balance is a topical subject. But far too often, it remains an unachievable goal for millions of people at the end of their tether who go on living their unbalanced lives until they hit rock bottom.
The reasons are plenty, but the leading ones are not being proactive and lacking perspective. Instead of consulting a career expert who can help them craft a winning resume that will get them employed on better conditions with a higher salary, they live day in, day out like they’re used to.
Are you longing to break this vicious circle by finding a better job, but your job application gets rejected, time and again? Then you might need help from online resume services to get you going. You might also want to consult a career counselor, especially if you’re not sure which path to take.
If you like your job yet need tips on improving your work-life balance, read on: we’ve got some.
Tips for Employees Working from the Office
Life can be tough for those building a traditional career as an office employee at a big company. The demands can be overwhelming, and the pressure – exhausting. Here is what you can do.
1. Revise Daily Schedule
If there’s hardly any room for anything more than work in your life, wrong planning might be the reason. To find out if that is the case, analyze your daily schedule and consider improving it.
Optimizing your daily routine by outsourcing some household chores or cutting down on procrastination can change a lot. If it doesn’t help, it’s time for a major change.
2. Negotiate Better Conditions
If you like your job in general, start by negotiating for better conditions at your current company. Most employers have become more flexible during the pandemic, so you have higher chances of getting what you want if you’re a valuable asset.
Things you can ask for include
- promotion;
- higher salary;
- remote or hybrid work;
- flexible hours.
3. Find a New Job
If nothing of the above helps, set the ground for your departure from the company or the career field you’re in. Prepare a bot-beating resume, start networking to connect with recruiters or a hiring manager, and initiate a job search process.
Yet, bear in mind that you might need to invest in your future career at this point and hire a professional to get more interviews and land your dream job.
Tips for Remote Workers and Freelancers
The pandemic has changed a lot, including the way we work. Today, remote work is part of the new normal. Hypothetically, WFH and freelancing should be beneficial for employees. However, that is not always the case.
If you struggle to find work-life balance with an online job, try the following tips.
4. Improve Time Management
Time management is a key skill for every freelancer/remote employee. If you’re bad at it but don’t want to go back to the office, you have no choice but to learn to be better.
Here’s how you can do it:
- read books on time management;
- undertake training (online courses or self-training);
- install time management and planning apps.
5. Set Your Goals
A career path doesn’t only exist in big offices: it’s something every professional should be concerned about. But building it becomes next to impossible if you don’t set goals. Not having clear goals also results in making the wrong choices, which is a major obstacle to a healthy work-life balance.
When determining your goals, remember the SMART formula. Smart goals should be
- specific;
- measurable;
- achievable;
- realistic;
- time-bound.
6. Don’t Neglect Vacations
For many freelancers and remote employees, a vacation is a change of scenery. But the sea or the forest won’t be of any help if they are just a view from your window. The only real vacation is when you don’t work.
So, save money, plan a trip or a staycation that doesn’t include work, and notify your employers or clients about your plans in advance. The world won’t stop turning while you have your well-deserved rest!
Tips for Entrepreneurs
These are entrepreneurs, not office workers or freelancers, who have the worst work-life balance. But it should not be this way. If your business equals your life, it’s time to learn some tricks before you run out of fuel.
In addition to the tips listed above, here are more suggestions.
7. Build a Team
Business owners deal with more tasks than employees or freelancers. But doing this, that, and the other yourself can drain you out very quickly — that is not to mention that you can’t be equally great at every aspect.
Therefore, you have to learn to delegate. Surely, hiring personnel means spendings, but you can regard it as an investment. If you don’t have the time or qualifications to look for employees, you can get professional help from recruiting firms or freelance recruiters.
8. Take a Break
Things also get clearer in hindsight. If you feel your vision has blurred, take time off, unplug, and go somewhere where you can relax and contemplate in solitude. Once you break the vicious daily circle, the right solution might come to you by itself. And even if it doesn’t, you’ll at least get some quality rest!
Wrapping Up
Sometimes, the healthy work-life balance seems unachievable. But more often than not, it is just a delusion. With some effort and a little help from our tips, you can have a better, more balanced, and healthier life that includes far more than work!
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