How I Achieve Work/Life Balance
First + foremost – let me just preface this post by saying that this is what works for me. I was contemplating writing a post on “how to achieve work/life balance”, but I feel like the definition of it varies for everyone. How I feel balanced may actually feel like chaos for you, and visa versa. But all of that is okay – I’ve personally set a 6 rules for myself to ensure that I have some level of work/life balance in my life everyday.
1. One free weekday evening and one free weekend day. This rule ensures that I have time to recoup and relax in my space. I love spending time doing a whole bunch of nothing in my Harlem studio apartment. During this time, I try my best to stay off of my computer, unless I am journalling, and zone out with a good cup of tea… and occasionally some takeout. I read, I nap, I watch movies or catch up on TV shows that I missed, and I just enjoy the time to myself.
Sure, sometimes I bring out the bleach and start giving my space a deep cleaning, but I kind of like the feeling of relaxing in your space after you’ve cleaned everything and feel like there is nothing else to do.
2. Limit cell phone use from 10pm – 7:30am. This is a hard one, but it makes me feel SO good to be disconnected from everyone and everything. I have a few numbers that are set as “priority” so I will receive an alert if those folks call – but everyone else goes unanswered until the morning commute to work.
I do find myself grabbing my phone to check when I’m still up past my bedtime, but because I have this rule, it makes me much more conscious and I tend to feel a bit guilty.
3. Turn off all social media notifications. Being a blogger can make you a slave to social media. Seriously?! If I kept all of my alerts on, I would always be distracted and feel like I need to be tweeting, hash-tagging, chatting, liking, or snapping something. Sure, I enjoy it somedays, but that forces me to take in and expend a bunch of energy outward. Sometimes, I need to be able to think and concentrate on a task without having a notification disrupt my thoughts.
I especially love that my phone, the LG G3, only has a little light that flashes for notifications vs having the entire screen flash. Therefore, if I am not looking at my phone, then I won’t see anything. Hell, I even put it face down on my desk at work so I can concentrate.
4. In reference to my 9-5… work happens at work, not at home. I know some people may not have this luxury, but when I leave the office. I leave the office. Do not call me unless it’s an emergency, delayed opening, snow day, or something like that. 99.999999% of everything can be done between the hours of 9am-5pm. While I sync my calendar to my phone so I can see what I have planned, I turned off notifications for my work email. I would delete it all together since my job doesn’t pay for my phone, but it’s easier to send an email out when I have to call in sick, and I hate having to do the whole verification process every time I delete it or get a new phone.
Additionally, I believe that this sets expectations for my clients and coworkers. If I am sending out emails on Saturdays and after 5pm on a regular basis, people start to expect it! My clients and coworkers know, when I’m off, I’m off. If you need me, you need to text me or call – and it should be an emergency.
5. In reference to blogging + coaching. Since I’m still working a 9-5 job, I try my best to batch my schedule so I can have time away from blogging and coaching clients. I take client coaching calls on 2-3 nights per week, and the other 2-3 days I work on developing more content. I also bring my iPad to work so I can type out blog posts on my lunch break and keep a running list of ideas in case I have writer’s block.
I also give myself a break when needed. I used to struggle and beat myself up when I missed a day of blogging, but not I try not to sweat it. Sure, if it’s paid work… I’ve got to get it done someway, somehow. But for everything else, I try to take my time and plan ahead. I also LOVE the EPIC BLOG: One-Year Editorial Planner – planning ahead gives me time to prepare and enjoy blogging a bit more.
6. I give myself permission to have fun and let anything go that doesn’t feel good. Sometimes you have to let go of what stresses you out to achieve balance {and sanity!}. This could be relationships, work commitments, meetings, projects – anything extra that is stressing me out can go/be postponed, ect. The key here is extra though – cause if I let it all go, I’ll be homeless. lol
HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE WORK/LIFE BALANCE?
BIOGRAPHY
Kimberly Brown serves as the Assistant Director of Alumni Career Programming and Employer Development at a university in NYC and as the Founder and Editor of Manifest Yourself, a lifestyle and wellness blog. Through all of her experiences, she has become skilled in goal setting, coaching, developing effective partnerships, personal development, and social media content creation.
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