How to Find an Effective Work Life Balance

Having a good work/life balance can be a tricky part of owning a business or having a career. Sometimes it can become hard to distinguish where one ends and the other begins. However, the separation of work and personal life is important for two reasons. Firstly, it increases productivity in both areas. You will find yourself having more quality time with both your family, and your work if you find a way to effectively separate them. Secondly, it increases overall health. Going to bed stressed about what a client wants, or worried about tomorrow's tasks is not healthy, and will increase general stress levels. It is important to find an effective balance of work and life that does not throw either category away. Westmount Signs is committed to the well-being of all of our clients, and so we offer these helpful hints on effectively balancing both a personal and business life.

Set boundaries

Today's technology can often make the line between your work life and personal life blurry. Turn off your cell phone and laptop when you're at your son's soccer game, and ask friends and family not to interrupt your workday unless there is an emergency.

Concentrate on one thing at a time

Forget multi-tasking. It's not possible to effectively focus on two things at the same time. Instead, devote your full attention to the task at hand. When you are working, work. When you are spending time with your family, focus solely on them.

Set your priorities

Figure out what you want your priorities to be, not what you think they should be. Ask yourself, "If I could only focus on one thing in my life, what would it be?" That answer should be your top priority. What would you focus on second? Third? Fourth? Fifth? You've now identified your top five priorities that you should use to guide your life.

Schedule something to look forward to each week

Book some time to play tennis with a friend, go to an art museum, or have a massage. The activity doesn't have to be time-consuming, complicated, or expensive. Put aside an hour on your schedule to read a book, take a walk, or just to be alone.

Evaluate personal and general lifestyle

Lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and bad exercise habits can cause you to feel a lack of balance in your life, which can counteract any efforts you are making to achieve a good work/life balance. A key part of a good work/life balance is to be able to operate at full capacity at both. Being ill or unhealthy will force the work and the life to merge as there will cease being enough energy to do either effectively in its allotted time.