Are you struggling to balance it all? It isn’t easy, and you aren’t alone. Many individuals struggle daily with balancing family, work, their personal selves, and hobbies. It can seem overwhelming at times and also cause us to feel like we are neglecting some aspect of our lives, and sometimes it’s not just a feeling we have but an actual truth. More times than not we don’t just FEEL like part of our life is being neglected, we can see that it actually is. Then the guilt sets in as we see that work has taken a backseat or our family, or even ourselves. It really depends on who you are as to which area is effected the most. However, when one area is effected by being off balance, they all are. So how can we balance everything and ease the guilt and stress?
Trying to manage everything and get it all taken care of causes us to become more stressed which can lead to loss of focus, irritability, and even depression. The more stressed we become over not being able to juggle it all, the more these areas are negatively effected. Also, overtime the stress and anxiety of these heavy workloads can cause our immune systems to be weakened and in today’s world that can be a lot worse than in previous years. Not to mention the damage it can do to vital organs as research shows chronic stress can increase our risk of heart attacks.
Nonetheless, we can achieve a good and healthy balance between everything. It is an attainable goal we should all work towards, and it starts with routine and time management.
Setting manageable goals each day can help at work and at home. You only have so much time in a day, so making to-do lists that have more on them than what is feasible in a day will only lead to more stress. Checking off items as you go will help you to visualize how productive you’re being, but having multiple items on your list at the end of the day that have NOT been accomplished can lead you to feeling like you have failed. Being able to meet your daily goals will give you a sense of accomplishment and control in which can lessen the amount of stress you feel.
Creating these manageable goals also helps to break-down larger tasks and can assist us in steering away from procrastination. Some individuals have a tendency to procrastinate more when the task seems too big, but when they are broken down into manageable goals we can tackle them more efficiently. Accomplishing bigger tasks this way helps us to be more productive and gives us the extra time we need to focus on our other goals which, in-turn, allows us more time with friends and family.
No one is perfect and we all need a break! Whether that be a 5 minute break or a 5 hour break (just not at work, the boss likely wouldn’t like that!), your mental health is important and a break can help! If you become overwhelmed and just can’t think clearly, step away for a few minutes and take five. You can find a quiet place to just sit, play a quick game on your phone, walk to a coffee stand, however you relax…just take the break. Small breaks can help you clear your mind and return to the task with a better mindset. This also helps if you are stuck on a task and are unsure how to proceed. If you have that block, a small break can assist in getting you back where you need to be to tackle what lies ahead.
This also applies at home. Sometimes parents need a time-out too, or you may even need a break from friends or a spouse. Breaks don’t make you a bad parent, friend, or spouse; rather, they can make you better!
This one is hard for many. Many of us don’t like to ask for help, feel like we need to do it all, and/or don’t feel like we have people we can ask. However, we cannot do everything no matter how hard we try. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. Realizing you need help and reaching out for it is one of the strongest things we can do. Sometimes it isn’t even physical help that we need, rather just someone to talk to about what is going on in our lives or asking for others’ guidance.
Whether we have family to ask, friends, or co-workers- there is always someone if we simply try. Even reaching out to our boss and saying we need help can go a long way. Employers sometimes prefer we ask for help when needed, especially if it comes down to not getting the work done on-time. Do you mind helping others when you see the need is there? No? Then you need to see that it is also okay to ask for it or accept the help when it is offered.
There are many other ways to balance our lives, but it all comes down to actively trying to reduce stress and realizing we are only human. No one can do it all, and it is a continuous process as your family, interests, and work change. You may need to periodically evaluate and make changes where needed, but the work-life balance is possible and should be a top-priority. Most importantly, if your life feels too chaotic and you are still having trouble finding a balance that works for you, speak to a mental health care provider.
TK Accounting & Consulting 