Take control of your professional and personal life by finally attaining that healthy work–life balance.
Do you feel like you’re constantly dropping the ball as you juggle your work and personal life? Did work get in the way of another planned event with friends or family? Maybe you feel so drained after your 9 to 5, you don’t have time for the things that bring you joy. Or taking care of your home and children doesn’t leave any time for those creative pursuits that also fill you with purpose.
Finding that sweet spot between professional responsibilities and the things that make you happy outside of work can seem like an impossible quest. But achieving a healthier work-life balance isn’t only possible, it’s essential for your overall spiritual well-being, happiness, and productivity.
What is Work-Life Balance?
Work-life balance allows you to meet your work responsibilities and prioritize your personal life. It is the state of alignment where neither side overwhelms the other, leading to a healthy, productive, and satisfying lifestyle. It involves managing your time effectively, setting priorities, and making conscious decisions about what you want your life to encompass. A good work-life balance looks different for everyone, as it reflects your unique values, goals, and circumstances.
Why is It Important?
Remember that God created you for so much more than productivity. While you may find fulfillment in your daily job, your purpose extends beyond the confines of professional achievements and work obligations. Work-life balance allows time to explore and fulfill the diverse roles God intended for you, whether that’s as a parent, partner, friend, volunteer, artist, gardener, writer, or whatever calling you feel.
It’s in these varied roles that you truly thrive, experiencing the fullness of your life and the depth of your relationships. God wants you to lead a rich, multi-faceted life that reflect His creativity and love. Prioritizing work-life balance reaffirms your commitment to honoring all aspects of God’s plan for you, ensuring you don’t neglect the abundance of joy and fulfillment found in the time outside of work.
Here are 15 ways to help you create a more balanced approach to your work and personal life, ensuring that neither is neglected or overwhelms the other.
15 Steps to Better Work-Life Balance
Set Your Boundaries Clearly
Establish distinct boundaries between your work life and personal life. Make sure you have specific work hours and stick to them, avoiding work-related tasks during your personal time. If your work goes from 9am to 5pm, commit to stopping all work—from emails to paperwork to phone calls—at 5pm. Write down those boundaries and keep them somewhere you can see them. And turn off your work notifications if you can.
Use Your Commute to Create Separation
Whether you drive, take the bus, or board a train, you can use that commute time to separate your professional life from your personal life. Try listening to music, an audiobook, or doing your prayer time to help you transition between these two spheres. Work from home? Take a walk directly before and after work, even if it’s just around the block, to create that physical and mental separation.
Get Comfortable Saying No
Setting those clear boundaries will involve learning to say that difficult word: no. This can be a tough step, especially if you are a people-pleaser. But it’s an essential part of maintaining that work-life balance. Learn to understand your limits and be confident in turning down additional responsibilities if they threaten your work-life balance.
Find a Meaningful Hobby
Pick a hobby that makes you feel fulfilled and content. Whether it’s painting, playing an instrument, baking, knitting or gardening, this hobby should be something you truly enjoy and look forward to outside of work. Try to make this hobby as different from your work as you can. If you spend all day indoors at a desk, pick a hobby like hiking or birdwatching. If you work outdoors, enjoy some quiet time inside with watercolors or a good book.
Schedule Rest Time for Yourself
Do you ever get on a roll at work and look up to see the whole day has flown by? While this may feel great, it can be unhealthy to not let your mind or body rest. During work hours, make sure to take short breaks to stretch, stop looking at your screen, walk away from that paperwork, clear your mind, or grab a snack.
Cultivate Relationships Outside Work
Spending time with your coworkers during work and even after hours can be fulfilling but make it a priority to spend quality time with family and non-work friends as well. This supports a strong personal support system and enriches your life outside of work. When you talk with your friends and family, don’t let work talk dominate the conversation. Check in with each other on work, but then remember to move onto other topics as well, like hobbies, mutual friends, and upcoming events.
Schedule Time for Quiet Solitude
Between emails, phone calls, meetings, and schedules, work can sometimes be a chaotic and loud environment. This is why it’s essential to carve out time for quiet solitude in your personal life. Spend some time without any distractions or external noise. This could mean taking a break from social media, reading a book alone, spending time in prayer or meditation, or simply sitting outside in nature. Use this time to clear your mind and reconnect with yourself. It’s okay to tell your partner or family you need a “solo night” to recharge.
Pursue Learning Outside of Work
Learning shouldn’t stop with your education or professional development. Take the time to learn something new outside of work, whether it’s a language, instrument, craft, sport, or other skill. Follow your curiosity but try out something that’s distinctly different from your career or job. This maintains that sense of purpose and creativity in your life while also giving you new areas to talk about with others.
Keep a Work-Life Balance Journal
Journaling can be an excellent way to monitor your work-life balance progress. Each day, jot down how you’re feeling in both areas of your life. Are you satisfied with the amount of time and energy going into each? What worked well today and what didn’t? Are there certain days you work past your boundaries? As you notice patterns, take note of them and use this journal as a reflection tool to make necessary changes.
Personalize Your Workspace
It’s important to feel comfortable and inspired in your workspace, especially if your job is a desk-bound one. Make sure you personalize your office or cubicle with items that bring you joy—photos of loved ones, plants, artwork, or even fun desk accessories. These little touches can remind you of all the things life holds for you outside of work. You’ll be inspired to finish up work and head home to family and hobbies if you have physical reminders of them.
Prioritize Leisurely Pleasures
It may seem counterintuitive to schedule non-productive time, but it can lead to better work-life balance. Block out chunks of time when you won’t be reading emails, working on projects or responding to coworkers outside of your normal work hours. Use this time for whatever you feel like — whether that’s a relaxing bath, playing with your kids, sitting in the park doing nothing, blowing bubbles, or taking a nap. Remember, God created you for so much more than productivity. Taking time for yourself helps you honor His plan for your life.
Don’t Bring Your Work Home
It may be tempting to bring work home, especially if you have a tight deadline or an important project. But making a habit of working after hours can quickly lead to an unhealthy work-life balance. Set limits for yourself and try to complete all your work during working hours, even if it means saying no to extra projects. If you work from home, keep your computers and documents at your desk and avoid bringing them to the dinner table or the living room.
Try Scheduling After-Work Plans
It may be tempting to go straight home after work, but doing this every day can turn your workdays into days only for work. Having something planned after work can help you mentally transition from work mode to personal time. Schedule a dinner with friends, join a book club that meets once a month, or plan for an evening bike ride with your partner. It doesn’t need to be every day but knowing that you sometimes have something fun and exciting waiting for you when the workday ends can help you stay motivated and focused throughout the day.
Practice Mindful Eating During Your Lunch Break
Many people eat lunch at their desks or in their workspace, often while still working. This not only contributes to a sedentary lifestyle but also takes away from the opportunity for your mind and body to rest. Make sure you take a designated lunch break during which you step away from your workplace and enjoy your meal. Be mindful as you eat, savoring each bite and giving your mind a break from the constant work thoughts. If you find your thoughts consistently returning to work, try listening to music, podcast, or audiobook let your mind engage with something else.
Discover Your Purpose Beyond Work
It’s important to find fulfillment and joy outside of your career. This doesn’t mean you need to start a side hustle or take on another job, but rather identifying what truly brings you happiness and purpose in life beyond your work responsibilities. This could be volunteering for a cause you’re passionate about, spending time with family, exploring creative pursuits, or traveling. Whatever it may be, make sure it’s something that aligns with your values and goals—and brings you happiness!
