Stuck In the (Work-Life) Balance

What does your work-life balance look like? It’s a topic for the ages, and one that’s not going away any time soon. CIO Magazine’s Meridith Levinson has some good thoughts on the subject. It’s true that stress makes you age more quickly and is often responsible for many of today’s ailments. It’s no surprise that in today’s world it has become increasingly difficult to unplug (literally and figuratively) from the office – our smartphones go with us wherever we are, and it’s hard to make that divide between what is work and what is… well, everything else!

Here are some great steps outlined by Levinson and Peter Handal of Dale Carnegie Training on how to make the divide:

1. Plan to unplug – schedule times to be without your electronics so you can unplug and unwind.
2. Exercise – pounding the pavement can really clear your head and allow you to de-stress. As Levinson and Handal note, it is also impossible to handle your smartphone while you’re on the treadmill or lifting weights!
3. Go where cell phones aren’t allowed – this one is pretty self-explanatory. If phones aren’t allowed, you won’t have a chance to be distracted by work emails!

Don’t forget that a healthy work-life balance is essential. In fact, it’s even good for business! There’s nothing more unproductive than being burnt out at the office, so strive for a good balance!

What tips do you have to create a better balance? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks.