5 tips for improving work/life balance

This list is for me really as I struggle to find balance in my work/life.

1. Body first, business second

I repeat this mantra to myself most days and still struggle! It means put your physical wellbeing first. Move, eat well, exercise, relax. Before diving into your day. Despite knowing this, it's not always so easy in practice and, on busy days, I tend to dive into work first and then there's no room for body second.

It's something I'm still working on. It requires discipline and carving out the time. It's a work in progress.

2. Say No more often

I've improved at this over the years. But I still have my moments. I take on more than I should instead of declining. On the whole I decline more than I take on,

3. Protect your calendar

In this current job my time gets hijacked on a regular basis. I often come home and say I've done nothing. I've done lots but none of what I needed to do and still have to do what I really should have done. Sometimes you have to be a bit bullish and push back when people ask you to prioritise their work over what you already had planned.

4. Be a bit selfish

They say women have a tendency to put themselves low down on the list of priorities but I imagine this applies equally to men. It's very easy to think about others before yourself and then run out of time. It goes against the grain but we need to put ourselves first. Life is short.

5. Find joy

If you know what brings you joy, it's easier to pursue it. Make a joy list and do something that makes you happy, however small, every day.