Finding Your Balance

Finding a solid work life balance is something I've struggled with for years – whether that be in my 9-5 jobs or my freelance life. Since COVID and the beginning of many people working from home, I’ve realized how many people also struggle with finding their own balance. Although there is no perfect work-life balance, I wanted to share a few of the things that have helped me stay on track, especially during this last year.

Limit Information Intake

By limiting information intake and eliminating distractions throughout my work hours, I’m able to commit to a more productive work day, in turn feeling satisfied enough to completely unplug at the end of the day.

Find Your Routine

Find a routine and stick with it. From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, I have a general idea of the things I’ll be doing throughout the day. I’ve turned to time blocking as a way to stay on track with client projects, and have also really enjoyed theming my days to have a general idea of which day-today tasks I’m tackling while also controlling decision fatigue.

Using the Right Tools

From project management and staying organized, to managing stress and prioritizing my health – I have several tools to help avoid burnout, protect my most valuable resource (time), and encourage a better quality of life. Some tools I use are Asana, Todoist, Headspace, Fitbit.

Saying ‘No’

Saying ‘no’ doesn't come easy to a lot of people but it’s the one thing that can improve your productivity, health, and happiness. Set your standards, your goals, and your priorities and learn it’s okay to say ‘no’ to the distractions that take away from your priorities.

Logging Off

You’ve set your schedule now, try your best to stick to it. Your office may be steps away from your living space, making it harder to unplug and more tempting to jump back into work, but most things, I’ve learned, can wait until the following work day.

If you're currently struggling to find your balance, I encourage you to test what works best for you. We live in a world where there's a heavy push for productivity in work – that working 80 hour weeks is celebrated, and that our mental health and happiness comes second. Don't forget to take care of your mind, body, and soul.