7 Effective Tips That Will Help Improve Your Work-Life Balance

While a traditional 9 to 5 job is important and pays the bills, we have to remember that life is about balance. Work is a big part of our lives and it should be something we take pride in, but that doesn't mean it has to define who we are.

That's why, together with Dockers®, we want to make 2021 the year where you take life in your own hands and make an impact along the way.

It's a good practice to set your log off time. By doing so, you give yourself a deadline to complete your tasks for the day, making you more productive and efficient, and less likely to stay back after work hours.

By letting your teammates know early, you also set their expectations. Be clear that if they need you for something, to let you know early so that you have time to help. Eventually, your team will expect you to leave on time every day.

As long as you're able to complete your work, it shouldn't be a problem. In fact, it might even help promote healthy work habits for your colleagues too!

'Me time' is as important (if not more) than work, friends, and even family. When you're happy, you'll find that it spreads to other areas of your life.

Not only do you become a better employee or employer, you also become a better spouse, partner, parent, and friend.

Schedule time for yourself into your calendar; actually write it down. It could be as simple as a one-hour nap on Saturday or a night of gaming with online friends at home, to as luxurious as a full body massage at a spa or a one-night staycation in a nearby hotel.

Multitasking is exhausting, and often you're not able to give 100% to any of the tasks you're trying to complete at the same time. Instead, try overlapping tasks.

You want to exercise more, pick up a new hobby, and spend more time with friends and family? Get everyone to meet up at the park and go for a bike ride. Book a badminton court and have everyone hang out and play for a couple hours. Introduce your kids to hiking, walking, throwing frisbee... 

With a little creativity and planning, there are many ways to kill two (or more!) birds with one stone ;)  

Rather than always waiting for Friday to arrive, consider planning a weekly social activity during the week. That way you have something to look forward to mid-week.

It could be a monthly game night with friends, weekly dinner with family, a movie club, art class, bowling league... Whatever floats your boat!

We usually plan our social lives around work, but having a set social event in your calendar every week is a great way to reverse the roles juuuuuust a little bit. So you can plan your work and office hours around this weekly or monthly special meet ;)

Hobbies don't have to be expensive or time-consuming. Is there something that you've always wanted to try but never gotten around to doing it? Just go for it! Block out time and go for it. Whatever it is you're interested in, there's probably a class you can take, a community you can join, or at the very least, a YouTube video tutorial you can watch to get started. 

Research has shown that hobbies help your mental health and alleviate stress. This in turn strengthens your relationships with others, as well as improving your career!

If you're not a hobby kinda person, volunteering to help others is another great way to bring you inner peace. Not only do you get to connect with others outside of work, you'll also enjoy better life satisfaction and lower psychological distress. There are countless NGOs that would love a helping hand. 

There may be times when you have to complete a work task after hours, but try not to make this the norm. Log off and set 'Away' messages during weekends, and especially when you're enjoying your well-deserved annual leave!

Don't check your emails, don't kepoh with your colleagues, and if you do most of your work on a laptop, shut it off and put it away.

Trying to get a 'head start' on Monday by working on Sunday is sure to leave you feeling burned out. Trust in your abilities, skill, and teammates to complete your work during work hours.

Easier said than done, for sure. But at the end of the day, if you are trapped in a company culture that expects you to work overtime, after hours, and on weekends, it can be difficult to have the work-life balance you want.

While there are definitely people who enjoy this working style, it's not for everyone, and that's OK! 

Be open to working in a different company, perhaps even changing industries, if you feel overwhelmed and unhappy in your current job. We spend so many hours of the week working, that it should be more than something that pays the bills.

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This season, try on a pair of Ace Tech Pants, Alpha Cargo, or Cargo Shorts to experience all-day comfort thanks to Smart 360 Tech.

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