Achieving a work-life balance is a must. Today, more than ever, employees are overburdened with numerous conflicting obligations, including job responsibilities, child-rearing, housekeeping, volunteering, and old parent care, etc. Individuals, families, and relations all suffer as a result of an imbalance between these responsibilities. This creates the need for a balanced life.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added to the work-life dilemma. With more and more people working from their homes, the line between work and personal life has been blurring down to the extent that it’s almost invisible now. 

The term ‘office hours’ is losing its relevance as individuals are being made to work 24×7 under the disguise of ‘work from home. Your personal and professional life are two different spheres; although somehow related, no one sphere should overshadow the other. Both demand attention and commitment, but not at the expense of one another. 

Having a work balance is imperative for your mental health; it helps you cope better with stress. It improves your productivity level, lets you be fully present in the moment, and nudges you into a healthier life. 

The benefits of work-life balance are undoubtedly many. But it isn’t an easy task to attain this balance. Work-life balance means different things for different people, but here are a few tips that almost anyone can use to achieve a more balanced life.

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Bring changes in the way you work
When working, we tend to forget about our well-being. We work for long hours without giving ourselves a break resulting in overwhelmedness. This has to change. Taking breaks is a necessity. 

Take out time using short recesses to relieve stress. Use the Pomodoro technique, i.e., have short focused work sessions followed by breaks. This will help increase concentration and reduce fatigue.

Also, make sure your work doesn’t interfere with basic activities like having lunch. Demarcate your work from your ‘me-time’.

Have a timetable
Work-life balance is disrupted when your professional life starts taking over your personal life. This typically happens when you have not demarcated your work from your ‘me-time’. You let your work aspect come in the way of your pleasures. 

Having a timetable that limits the time you devote to work every day can help you resolve this problem. It will make sure you keep track of your duties for the day and help you not overburden yourself.

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Reward yourself
Another reason people cannot have a work-life balance is that they constantly push their limits without acknowledging their hard work. When you start recognizing your efforts, you feel more satisfied and content with your work. As a result, you don’t impose excessive strain on yourself related to work. Don’t rely on your employer to boost your morale, do it yourself. 

Try meditation
 Often, we find ourselves struggling to attain a balanced life because our mind is not calm and is overthinking about a lot of things. In situations such as this, we find it difficult to focus on anything further, leading to anxiety and stress. 

Meditation brings your mind to peace while building self-awareness. It also lengthens your attention span and makes you feel relaxed and calm. All of this can help you focus on your work-life better while automatically enhancing your personal life – a big step in achieving a work-life balance.

Conclusion
In the everyday hustle, we tend to forget the importance of work-life balance. Take a moment and introspect – do you have a work-life balance? Or you are also a part of the crowd that’s mindlessly working without giving due importance to personal wellbeing. 

If the latter is your answer, you need to rethink your choices and take up steps to achieve the balance. Do this for a healthier lifestyle and finally get that satisfaction we are all looking for.