I was struck by a conversation I had with a friend a few months ago. I had casually asked what was new and was surprised to hear a rundown of her busy (mind you, out-of-control) schedule for the week. When she looked to me for my rebuttal, I simply said, “I have some work this week and hope to relax at home this weekend.”

And that was the simple truth. Am I busy? Of course. Do I overextend myself? Never. Because the consequences for me are never good. Lack of sleep, frazzled and an increase in stress. This disease of being busy is at the root of the work-life balance struggle. But there is good news! Below are some tips to achieve balance and ensure that you do not overextend yourself.

  1. Learn to say “no.”
    If you take away one thing from this blog, let it be to say “no.” If you’re volunteering your time with three different organizations each week, it might be time to choose the one you’re most smitten with and kindly decline the others. Saying no means you are putting up boundaries around your precious time, and that my friends is POWER.
  2. No more guilt
    Stop feeling guilty about missing the occasional get-together or kids baseball game. Give yourself permission to be human (Gasp!). Once you lose the unrealistic expectations for yourself, you will enjoy activities and events without feeling forced into everything.
  3. Stop being a martyr at work
    We all know the one. Maybe that one is you? The person that works overtime without being paid and stays late just to catch up. What are you getting out of it? Does it bring you joy? Is it better than being home with your kids or relaxing by the pool? Consider all the alternatives to make sure it’s really where you should be spending your extra time.
  4. Allow yourself alone time
    This might seem counterproductive to achieving work-life balance, but it is key to ensuring you don’t burn out. Take personal time to relax and recharge your battery.

Start with these easy steps to improve your work-life balance. Do you have any others you would add to the list? Share them with me! If you’d like to chat further, find me on Instagram or Facebook, I’d love to connect!