Work life taking over your life is a serious concern. Work life taking over your life has to get addressed with proper planning and accomplishment with honesty and devotedness.

“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”

— Dolly Parton

We are living in an era were leaning in and working whatever hours it takes to get ahead in the profession. But in this race for career advancement, it can be increasingly easy to forget to take time for yourself. Most employees today find themselves with longer work hours and larger workloads. When you have more responsibilities, it’s hard not to let your career take precedence over everything in your life, which isn’t healthy.

Doing anything but work can seem like laziness or self-indulgence—especially when it looks like everyone else is still furiously working while you have taken off for the day. However, burnout is real. If you are not functioning at full capacity as you are mentally and physically exhausted, your work life and personal life will suffer.

The key is to obtain a good balance between your hard work and your outside life. Here are a few ways to ensure you have a healthy work and home life balance.

“Don’t confuse having a career with having a life.”

— Hillary Rodham Clinton

How to balance work life taking over your life?

• Keep one-day meeting-free.

There are a lot of companies who establish one day a week as “meeting-free,”. In this day, no one is allowed to schedule any mandatory group gathering. If your firm doesn’t do this, suggest it to your employer. Setting aside one workday that’s just for you to work will do wonders for your productivity. You will get to finish your work during the day and take home less work and stress at night.

• Work from home if possible.

If you have an option of telecommuting at your job, take advantage of it. If it is not there yet, have a conversation with your boss. Even one day or half-day a week can help keep you grounded and give you a little bit of space extra that keeps you centred.

• Protect your time away from the office.

If you have to take work home, ensure you set strict time limits for yourself so that it doesn’t eat up all of your out-of-office time. Finish all the critical works. Respond only to the most important emails, then leave the rest for when you are back at your desk. And unless it is truly an emergency, try to make it a policy not to respond to work emails over the weekends. Your weekend time is your own.

• Fit in exercise.

Build your workday with simple exercises such as a half-hour walk during the lunch break. If that is not possible, adjust your weekly routine, and add one or two hours for exercise. Exercising will keep you fit, sharp, young, and full of endorphins. You can afford to find the time, so go ahead and ensure you do, your body and brain will thank you. Taking care of your body will take care of so much else.

• Make family your priority.

The people who love you and you love in your life aren’t replaceable, and your job should know that. So, show up if any emergencies come. Make some time to be there for the people you love as a rule, not as an exception.

• Take vacation.

Vacation and personal time exist for some reason. Take every day you are allowed. You are supposed to use these days, and you will be glad you did. Your work and attitude will undoubtedly improve after taking a short break.

• Schedule some blank time.

Rather than scheduling yourself to the gills, from your alarm turning off in the morning until bedtime, ensure you block off time in your schedule when you don’t have anything to do. Let your brain really and truly relax, and it will stay creative and sharp.

You may not be able to give yourself a full half-hour or one hour every day, but you can try it. Even just twenty minutes to sit calmly and meditate or take a brisk walk can make a difference in your attitude and your health.

“If you can’t do anything about it then let it go. Don’t be a prisoner to things you can’t change.”

— Tony Gaskinsl

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