Work-life balance means getting the right ratio of time to work and for activities outside work.
It is not something that happens by itself, each person must work out what suits them best. It may be necessary at times to work extra hours but it should not become the norm.
Here are seven reasons to carve out more free time outside the office and what to do with it.
1. Catch up on the sleep you’ve been missing
The US National Sleep Foundation recommends that those aged 18 to 64 get six to 10 hours sleep a day, and many adults today are not getting enough.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention even describes sleep deprivation as a public health epidemic. Insufficient sleep can lead to anything from being cranky to a shortened life expectancy.
In other words, if someone were told that sleeping more today would prevent dying miserably of ABCXYZ disease in the future, would they sleep more?
One simple way to monitor sleep hours is to get an activity tracker or smart watch that automatically records how much one sleeps.
2. Take up a side job to earn some extra cash
When night falls, there are still a few hours left to pursue other interests. Why not get the hustle on and look for a part-time job? Whether freelance or contracted, active or passive, having a side hustle can a worthwhile investment of one’s time.
To decide on what side job to pursue, consider the desired benefits of the part-time job and where one’s interests lie.
Whether it is to gain experience before changing careers, networking to meet a future life partner or to earn enough to fulfil a financial dream, keep a big, visible reminder of these goals to motivate oneself.
3. Focus on personal development
There is always more to learn, more things to discover. Why stay in the office when there are new experiences to explore?
Use time wisely and look into education – a postgraduate degree or a certificate in baking, for example.
Or delve into information online, whether in written form or videos. But be careful not to get distracted by shopping sites and entertainment videos.
Exercise and looking into one’s physical and mental health could also benefit from further attention. Learn about different exercise regimes or healthy recipes, or learn to have boundaries and say no.
4. Strengthen your relationships with family and friends
Take stock of all one’s relationships – romantic, family, spouse/partner, friends, neighbours, colleagues, classmates and so on.
- When was the last meaningful conversation with them?
- When was the last time they were in one’s thoughts?
- When was the last time one apologised for something or thanked somebody for something?
Taking time to reach out is good for the emotional well-being and could one day come back when it is needed the most.
“Too busy working” is an excuse that can lead to regrets later. It can be as easy as playing masak-masak with the children or sending a WhatsApp message to a friend.
5. Finish those pesky chores and errands
There are routine tasks that must be done, no matter how tedious or dull, such as household chores, grocery shopping, vehicle maintenance, getting a haircut, updating the expense tracking and so on.
Neglecting chores and errands can leave one struggling to cope. Simplify life and stay organised.
Avoid falling into the trap of spending longer hours in the office to avoid incomplete chores. They won’t disappear by themselves. One must learn to derive satisfaction from a job well done.
6. Do something fun that’s not work related
What’s the point of work-life balance without having fun? Take a break. Enjoy watching Netflix, gaming, reading, shopping, baking, pampering the car or pretty much anything that is not work.
But remember that there must be balance here too, between the things that need to get done and having a good time.
But, if a person finds they need to indulge heavily in entertainment to unwind from work, it might be time to reassess the job. The concept of “work hard, play hard” has its limits.
7. Give back to the community
Philanthropy is the desire to help others with no expectation of returns. And there are so many ways to give back to the community.
- Donating money or items to charity.
- Spending quality time with the residents in homes for the aged or for the disabled, orphanages or animal shelters.
- Lending one’s skills to charitable organisations, for example, helping to check the accounts, managing social media accounts or cutting hair.
- Using skills for one-off events such as running a fundraiser or organising a workshop for the underprivileged.
- Doing physical work such as sorting items at a recycling centre, or walking dogs at an animal shelter.
- Doing things on your own for the benefit of others, such as plogging, which combines jogging and picking up litter.
Conclusion
There are so many great things to do with free time. There is never enough time for everything one needs or wants to do, but creating a good work-life balance can make for a much more pleasant, rewarding life.
Oh, and don’t let those accumulated days of annual leave go to waste.
This article first appeared in MyPF
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