The word “work life balance” is one of the most popular and widely used phrases in a professional context. It has been used in headlines and articles to describe how people need to strike a balance between their work and personal lives.

However, it has been argued that no one can find a perfect balance between work and personal lives. This is because of the ever-growing expectations that come with fast-paced, demanding work environments. Tension at home may also be caused by various reasons like long working hours, conflicting demands on time or lack of communication with family members.

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The following are some ways which can help an individual maintain a proper balance between their professional and personal lives:

1. Decide About Ways That can Impact Your goals

The first thing that is important when it comes to work-life balance is the way in which you think about the things that you do. You need to determine whether what you are doing will bring you closer to your goals or not. If something isn't making an impact on your goals, then start thinking of ways in which you can fulfill these goals without having to spend time on this particular task.

1. Time Management is a Must

Secondly, think about the time that you have allocated for certain tasks and tasks don't take up more than their fair share of time. This will help with managing both your priorities and your allotted time for different tasks.

Define what work-life balance means to you. What does it look like? Does it mean working from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday? Does it mean working from 8am-4pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday but not on Tuesdays?

3. Start your day with a cup of coffee and plan out your tasks for the day ahead.

One of the best ways to start your day is to make a morning routine for yourself. The last thing you should do before you go to bed is set a plan for your day the next morning, so you can wake up feeling more prepared and motivated.

4. If you want to go on a break during the workday, make sure to communicate this with your boss in advance.

One of the most important aspects of office etiquette is to let your boss know if you will be taking a break. If you're not forthcoming about your plans, you may come back to a pile of work waiting for you and this might make the situation even more difficult.Also read: 5 Most Demanding jobs in South Africa

5.  Take extended lunches when working from home and make sure to take lunch breaks at the office if you are working there.

Many people find that they are more productive when they work from home. It can be a quieter, less distracting environment than an office can be. However, it is important to make sure that you take lunch breaks at the office if you are working there.  This will help to keep your energy high and prevent any health problems like headaches or dizziness.

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6. Keep Your Mind and Body  healthy

Tips to obtain healthy work-life balance in South Africa:

- Find ways to be more active - walking, exercising, cycling.

- Stretch throughout the day.

- Drink more water, it’s good for them and for their health.

- Avoid caffeine and sugar.

- Take breaks from their work: use the phone app "pomodoro".

- Stay up to date with email notifications but don't respond when they are not at their desk during the day.

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7.Keep your weekends free unless it is necessary to work on them because of an upcoming deadline or event which is unavoidable.

It is always best to have a day of rest on the weekends to recharge for the week ahead. For some, taking Sundays off can be a pressing requirement in order to meet an upcoming deadline. In these cases, it is necessary to work on Sundays.
 

Wrap up

Achieving work-life balance is a struggle for many people in South Africa. People are beginning to feel like their job is just never done and that they need to be available 24/7. This can leave us feeling exhausted, despondent and overworked.