Health & Fitness

Five Simple Tips for Better Work-life Balance

Achieving an equal balance between work and personal life can be challenging, but there are a few ways to reduce the potential for burnout

By Wellness Matters /

Set your priorities for work-life balance and schedule in time for yourself

Left unaddressed, a lack of work-life balance can lead to burnout, absenteeism and stress-related disability claims

But let’s face it, when you’re trying to juggle a busy job and personal life, it’s sometimes hard to keep all the balls in the air. So how do you achieve work-life balance?

Five Simple Tips for Work-life Balance

1. Keep track of everything you do for one week. Be extremely detailed so that you can identify areas where you could save time or be more efficient. 



2. Set your priorities. Imagine yourself at the end of your life looking back and decide what you wish you had done more. Schedule important things like exercise, family time and date nights into your week, and honour those commitments.



3. Leave work at work. Cellphones and e-mail that keep us constantly connected to work have made it a lot harder to focus completely on family or relaxation. When you get home, turn off your cellphone.



4. Simplify. Focus on quality over quantity. Don’t try to do it all. Choose what’s truly important to you and do it well. It’s a lot more satisfying.



5. Look for helpful shortcuts. Could you shop once a week for groceries or order groceries online and have them delivered? Can you afford a cleaning service or pay a neighbour’s son or daughter to mow your lawn? Look for ways to lighten the load.


Re-balancing your work and life is a rewarding investment of time, but it’s not a one-shot deal. It is a continual process, especially as the demands of your job, your family situation and your personal priorities change.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.