Skift Take
Do you ever feel like work is taking over your life? Does the hectic schedule, the endless email correspondence, and the barrage of details that come standard with the job, ever stress you out? This post gives you 10 tips that take less than 5 minutes, but can really bring a sense of balance into your life.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve really looked into achieving work-life balance. The line between our productivity and our sanity can seem very thin. But there’s a lot to be said for separating your work from the rest of your life. Finding a sense of happiness and balance can often make us physically healthier, more energetic, and (get this) more productive! The problem, though, is that a lot of the information that’s already out there on achieving some semblance of work-life balance is complicated, and requires that you revamp your entire life just to get a few moments of sanity. As an event planner, sometimes we’re too busy to overhaul our entire lives. Here are 10 things you can do to achieve some balance that only take 5 minutes.
1. Plan Your Big 3
Take 5 minutes every day to plan your top 3 most important tasks to finish for the day. Rather than attacking a long, itemized to-do list, a “Big 3 List” will help you to see your day in a big picture way.
2. Schedule A Break
This may sound silly, but it really works! Pick a time in the evening (or whatever time works best for your schedule) that means you’re done working. Putting a reminder in your phone to have a glass of water and a quiet snack only takes a few moments, and can really help to balance things out. Remind yourself to take a break.
3. Be Intentional With Your Mornings
The first thing you do in the morning can set the tone for your entire day. Be intentional with your first 5 minutes of the day. Don’t spend it checking your email. Instead, use your first moments for something more productive. Get started on your morning hygiene routine. Have a glass of water (we often wake up a little dehydrated without even realizing it). Take some time to pray or meditate.
4. Stay In Shape
A healthy body and a healthy mind come in handy. Elevating your heart rate for even 5 minutes every day, can boost your mood, help you sleep better, and keep you an overall happier, healthier person – and healthier people have more energy (which every event planner on earth will tell you is mandatory for the job!).
5. Stand in a Power Pose
Amy Cuddy gave a TED Talk explaining that our body language can shape how we feel and perform. According to Cuddy, “Power Posing” means taking 5 minutes and standing with your legs shoulder width apart, chest out and chin up – just like a superhero. It’s a quick way to get a real confidence and performance boost!
6. Think About What You’re Grateful For
Nothing breeds balance like gratitude. A few minutes of thinking about what you are grateful for each day can make you a happier person. You could go as far as to write down the things you’re grateful for at the beginning or end of each day.
7. Apologize For Mistakes
You’d be surprised how far an apology goes. If you’ve made a mistake, it only takes a moment to make things right. Also, mistakes are opportunities for personal and professional growth. Take advantage.
8. Hold Others Accountable
Just as there is growth in your errors, there is growth in letting the people around you work for themselves, despite mistakes. Let your co-workers, your family members, and any other groups of people you share a workload with know what you expect of them. An accountable team helps to maintain a balanced life.
9. Go For A Walk
Getting your body moving and out into the open for a few minutes is always a good idea – especially if you’ve been at your desk all day. Remember to get up and get moving!
10. Remember What’s Important
Similar to expressing gratitude, remembering what is most important to you will help to keep your life balanced. Take a few minutes everyday and think about what motivates you. It will make your work easier to do, and your home easier to come back to.
In Conclusion
When people talk about achieving work life balance, the task often seems like a job of itself! There are simple things you can do, like focusing on your most important tasks, projects, and values that will help to balance out your life. In fact, simple things like the way you stand, and remembering to take a break, take less than 5 minutes. Work-Life balance can be easy for even the busiest event planner!
