So, in the Jetpack app, there is a ‘Daily Prompt’ feature that caught my attention.
The Daily prompt was of a couple of days ago was:
Since I’m still recovering from viral meningitis, this is a topic close to my heart. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been working on my recovery, which also involved finding a balance between work and my personal life. I wanted to share the lessons I’ve learned from my experience.
1. Set Clear Boundaries
It is crucial to set clear boundaries for yourself. Define specific work hours and strive to adhere to them, creating a clear separation between your professional and personal time. This is especially important when working from home. Resist the urge to check emails outside of your working hours. I know it may sound harsh, but remember that there is only one of you.
The same applies to your private life as well. If you’ve had a rough day, prioritize yourself. It is perfectly acceptable to decline a dinner party invitation.
2: Time Management & Planning
While I used to think I was good at planning, I realized that I was often overloading my day with tasks. The phrase ‘It will only take a minute’ became a frequent part of my vocabulary, leading to many headaches. I have since learned how to manage my time better and create more realistic daily plans. I started using an ‘Activity Tracker’ sheet, where I record my daily activities and assign points to each task. This method has truly opened my eyes, as it revealed that I didn’t have the energy or time to accomplish everything.
3: Prioritize and Delegate
In combination with better time management, I came to the realization that I cannot do everything on my own. It became clear that I needed to prioritize tasks based on their urgency and learn to delegate. While delegating tasks was not a significant issue at work, it posed a challenge in my personal life that I had to overcome.
4: Focus on your health
Although it may seem obvious, I neglected this aspect for quite a while. Taking care of your health is vital. I have now made it a priority (hey, did you see that prioritization is a good thing?), to go to the gym at least twice a week. I’m also more conscious of my eating habits and eating much healthier than ever before. This applies to your work as well! Make sure you take regular breaks during work!
5: Embrace Flexibility and Accept Imperfection
Recognize that there will be times when work requires more attention, and other times when personal matters demand your focus. Strive for a realistic balance rather than aiming for perfection, as the two realms will always ebb and flow. Give yourself permission to make adjustments when necessary and learn from any challenges you encounter along the way!
Conclusion
Personally, I have gained valuable insights over the past few months, particularly during my illness, when I realized I couldn’t do everything as I once did. It’s important to go with the flow and accept that there is no perfect solution. Finding the right work-life balance varies for each individual, so be patient and allow yourself room to adapt and evolve as needed. Here’s to achieving a harmonious and fulfilling work-life balance!