Ten Tips for Achieving Better Work Life Balance

We are all looking to achieve optimal work/personal life balance. Consider the following tips for getting closer to reaching your best by establishing a routine that works for you. Whether you work from home (WFH) or commute to an office every day, even adopting one of these tips and putting it into practice will make a difference.

1. Work From Home tip – finish working on time. Work in a separate, designated office, room or workspace with natural light.

2. Keep your office and home surroundings organized and tidy. Go though closets, drawers, cabinets and get rid of ‘stuff’ that’s weighing you down.

3. When/if you get bored or ‘burned out,’ freshen up your routine (activities, hobbies, foods, recreation).

4. Take a lunch break away from your desk, for at least 30 minutes.

5. Avoid overbooking/over scheduling your days/time.

6. Stay on track with 5 essential tasks/day that get you closer to meeting your goals.

7. Read and then re-read emails before sending them. Keep them short, to the point, positive and professional – a reflection of you.

8. Make a note (journal) of the lesson/what you learned from making a mistake/a wrong choice so you don’t repeat it.

9. Group like tasks together in a comfortable, efficient and orderly manner. Avoid jumping around from task to task. Establish a flow to your day that makes sense.

10. Whenever you have a break, squeeze in a walk. Prioritize exercise, at least 15 minutes, either before or after work.

Motivation Tip: Bypass Boredom

Don’t get bored – with the foods you are eating, your physical activity or even the route you take to commute. Boredom can kill motivation quickly. That’s why it is important to change things up, keep them fresh.

For diet, consider trying new, healthy recipes (online), new fruits and vegetables, cooking techniques, combinations, eat in season, treat yourself to a healthy restaurant meal, experiment with vegetarian eating and include your favorites once in a while, if in smaller portions.

For fitness, start with a variety of activities to choose from. Vary time, intensity and frequency. Occasionally buy new exercise equipment or gym clothes, exercise seasonally, try a new sport or dance class, check out walking/hiking groups, change your biking/walking route, for example.

Fitness basics: how to start a home exercise routi...

Developing a home fitness routine may seem daunting, even overwhelming, particularly if you are an exercise novice. In a world where “instant” is the norm, particularly in today’s technology world, it is tempting to skip the planning phase, diving into a potentially inappropriate exercise routine and overspending on exercise equipment. Save money, time, and potentially injury by familiarizing yourself with some fitness basics.

Health Check

Before embarking on any moderate to vigorous exercise routine, it is essential to check with your doctor and possibly schedule a physical, particularly if you have an existing medical condition, such as high blood pressure.

Structure

A well-balanced routine includes two main components: cardiovascular activity and strength training. However, stretching post-exercise, while muscles are warm, enhances flexibility and reduces your risk of injury.

Fitness Guidelines

Guidelines: If you are not familiar with the exercise recommendations for healthy Americans, this is the place to start. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide age-specific exercise guidelines and lists some of the benefits of exercise based on their 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Toolkit.

Fitness Assessment

Assessment: Make goal setting easier by assessing your wants, needs and potential limitations. Determine how much space you have in your home for working out comfortably, outline a budget and make a list of physical activities you currently enjoy or enjoyed as a child.

Goal Setting

Goal setting: The information gained from your assessment as well as your fitness goals will help you determine the best picks for your home fitness equipment. Start by setting two to three fitness goals. Ideally, goals should be specific, realistic and measurable. Perhaps you wish to lose weight and/or body fat, tone and strengthen specific muscle groups to improve sports performance or enhance flexibility to ease the pain of tight muscles.

While it is certainly possible to engage in an exercise routine at home without pre-planning, taking the time to plan and self-reflect will help you avoid making costly and potentially dangerous choices. Planning reduces the likelihood that your brand new stationary bike will end up serving as an expensive coat rack.