15 tips for improving work life balance

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every gadget can make employees work 24 / 7 continuously, and the balance between work and life is like a fairy tale. While it may be difficult for them to do so, what Americans value is a meaningful life outside of their daily work, and a happier job that gives them some freedom. A march 2013 study by Accenture, a management consulting firm, found that work life balance contributes more to happiness and job satisfaction than factors such as money or titles. You may not be able to make significant changes in your working hours, but small changes can help you better understand your situation.

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1. Turn off the smartphone and power off the laptop or tablet without technology. It's free to be free from constant information, disruption, and renewal. A study by Harvard University in October 2009 found that individuals feel more positive about their work when they don't check work and voice mail just one night a week. Participants also reported that they felt they were working more efficiently. It's "safest" to determine when a power outage occurs on a day or night, spending only 30 minutes of technology free time each day - time related to work or other time. Work up to an hour or more a day if you like.

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2. When you feel like you've been working all day to meet your expectations, taking time off can be exhausting. Try to balance yourself. If you really put "my time" on your schedule, you might stick to it a little bit more. Whether you're using an electronic calendar or an old-fashioned way of using pens and paper, make time every week to decompress and stick to it. Even if you can only spend 15 to 20 minutes a day getting rid of the demands of work, family and social responsibility, the arrangement of this time will be refreshing and satisfying.

correlation: three kinds of decompression techniques. Just say "no"

you may not always say "no" to new projects at work, but you do have control over many of your after hours commitments. Leisure time is a precious commodity, so we should evaluate the activities of leisure time and determine which activities really enrich your life and which do not. Maybe you have a habit of lobbying "yes" to social suburbs, which give you little or no fun. Or you find yourself doing time-consuming tasks, such as leading your child to a football team fundraising event or serving on the board of the Apartment Association. When deciding to take part in an activity that has nothing to do with work, ask yourself whether it's a "must", "can wait" or "can live without experience."

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4. Separate the weekend chores. If you work long hours of the week, you may find yourself dealing with a mountain of chores and errands on the weekend. Cramming a series of tasks into a rest day feels like work. If possible, try to squeeze some trivia into the corners and gaps of the workday so that you can relax on the weekend without feeling like you're punching. A study by Stanford University researchers in October 2013 found that Americans' emotional well-being increased significantly over the weekend. Reduce housework and work as much as possible, and make full use of the energy brought by weekends.

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5. Explore flexible working time options

flexible working time provides employees with a choice. As long as the number of hours they work each week reaches the agreed time, they can change the starting and leaving time. Some companies also allow employees to change the length of the working day, sometimes extending the working time, sometimes shortening the working time. " More and more companies offer flexible work, "said Peggy hall Smith, associate professor of public health education at the University of North Carolina and director of the women's health center. Flexibility in working hours is particularly important for parents who need to choose to balance their children's needs. "Ask about your company's policy on flexible working hours. If not, ask your boss if it's possible.

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6. Meditation

you can't add a day, but you can help make the existing time more important and feel less stress. Meditation is good for both soul and schedule. A 2012 study at the University of Washington found that meditation helps participants focus for a long time, improve work efficiency and reduce work stress. Try office meditation. If you're more effective in the day, you'll get more done, which will allow you to leave the office faster and prevent mistakes from forcing you to redo your work.

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wisely rather than pay after you find a new job or during the annual review, negotiate more vacation time, options for telecommuting, flexible working hours and other work life balance assets. " In addition, if you have a choice, please carefully consider where you work. During the job interview, investigate the company's policies on remote work, maternity leave, etc. to see if the company is really family friendly and committed to work life balance. " Take a look at the comments on the Internet, do some digging, and collect clues about the work culture. You don't have to ask these questions in an interview to find out a lot of things.

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8. Outsourcing your chores is sometimes worth the money for your mental state. Pay a little help, and you'll cross things off your to-do list, open up your schedule, and participate in fun activities during your break. Today, you can buy almost anything that is delivered to your doorWest - including groceries. House cleaning and landscaping services are plentiful and often affordable. There are even organizations that allow you to pay someone to run errands for you. You can set a price for professional runners to do everything from picking up dog food and sorting out papers to washing clothes and cleaning the yard.

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9. Make yourself priceless

make yourself indispensable before you start setting the boundaries of your work. " Lenny Miller, author of finding the right job: five steps to your beloved life, said: "do this job so they can't imagine what life would be like without you. Then, we need to keep healthy and efficient, and communicate with them in a really clear, calm and direct way. At the end of the work, provide reasonable reasons to reduce overtime or not send and receive work emails. " An hour. If this culture makes you feel that your job is at risk because of these types of conversations, it may be time to start looking for positions on the board that are more aligned with your values.

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10. Create creative solutions based on your work culture and circumstances, schedule a meeting with your supervisor to discuss how to alleviate burnout and get a better work schedule. " The author also asked Lenny Miller, "it's best to come up with a solution before you ask your manager to solve the problem." For example, work with a coworker on an urgent project and swap out which days you will be late. Ask if you can leave a few hours in advance a few days a week to pick up your child from school or do other things, but agree to work two hours at home by phone in exchange for an emergency.

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11. It may sound like a tough task to take time out of your already busy schedule to exercise, but it's not only good for your health, it's also worth your time. Russell Clayton, an assistant professor of management at San Leo University in Florida, found in 2013 that exercise can not only reduce stress, but also help individuals to be more confident and able to deal with family and work problems. Exercise gives participants a sense of work life balance as a whole. Go to the gym, run the stairs, bike to work - the key is to move.

correlation: 14 exercises to offset the impact of sitting all day. Credit: Agrobacterium / iStock / Getty Images

12. Prioritize your priorities

and decide what's most important to you outside of work. Prioritize your out of work activities and values based on their importance. If family is your first choice, have dinner together every night. If exercise is a stress reliever you don't want to live without, put the gym at the top of your non-negotiable list. Before you get involved in other work, identify how you would like to fill in downtime and commit to those priorities first. If you work long hours, you may need to give up some leisure activities and housework from time to time, but if you have some important pursuits, you are always suitable, you may feel less cheated time.

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13. Don't worry about trifles. If you work a long time and still try to fit in with your family, friends and "my time", letting small things slip away may improve your mental state. Maybe dusting or washing dishes can be postponed for a few days. Maybe you can wait until the weekend to wash your car or check your email. Your work demands enough energy and time for you, so don't put pressure on yourself at home to make things more complicated. Treat yourself well and take a break from time to time. Related to

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14. Adjust yourself to be more productive during the day and when you feel tired or angry. You can track this by writing down your feelings hour by hour in a few days. Knowing when you are at your best and being prepared for the most pressing tasks can help you plan your day effectively. Although this method will not give you more in a day, when you have limited energy and attention, it will suppress some tension caused by trying to complete a difficult task. You will feel more balanced and make the most of your time.

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15. Try to integrate work and life and ask yourself if your current position is consistent with your core values, skills and talents. The reality is that many jobs require more time than nine to five standards. If you are in a career that meets your needs, these requirements may not bother you so much. The writer also asked Lenny Miller that he likes to use the word "the combination of work and life", rather than the balance of work and life. "When people know the parameters of their right work, they can happily integrate the demands of work into their daily lives without resentment," she said. If their job is right for them, they want to be part of it. "

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What do you think?

your biggest challenge is to keep the balance between work and life? What can help you better achieve this balance? Please leave a message below and let us know.

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