Following on from last week where we looked at How to Live a Balanced Life, I’m going to share with you how you can stay focused by providing you with ten top tips for a good life balance.  These are designed to enable you to find more time for the priorities you have set yourself in order to obtain a happy and enriched life.

Ten Tips for a Good Life Balance

1. Limit the time you spend on social media – it’s sapping valuable time and stopping you living in the moment.
   In an era where social media is the norm, we spend far too much time looking at what other people are doing and not enough time creating precious moments.  Think about how much more time you would have if you limited your social media presence to an hour a day.  Not only is it time consuming but we can’t seem to go out without checking in on Facebook to tell people where we are or savior a meal without photographing it.  If you have chosen to spend time with family or friends then don’t worry about what anyone else is doing just enjoy what you’re doing.
2. Learn to say No – without having to justify your actions.
   The next time you are asked to do something that will require more of your time, take a few moments to think about whether a) you have the time to do it b) whether it will benefit you or c) you’re being taken advantage of again.  Whether in a work or social situation we are all asked to take on more, but in order for you to remain happy you need to start accessing whether this is the right thing for you.  By saying no now doesn’t mean that will always be the case, but if what you’re being asked doesn’t fit into your current priorities then be pleasant and simply say the you don’t currently have the time.
3. Work smarter – prioritising tasks by importance.
   At the start of each day write a list of the most important tasks that need to get completed. Don’t be tempted to spend time on ‘little’ tasks that crop up, believe me you’ll spend more time on these than you think. Try to only look at your emails three times a day, morning, lunch and late afternoon, this will keep you focused. And certainly don’t look at these during the evening which is all to easy with smart phones, leave work at work.
4. Ditch the adrenaline – it’s not good for you long term.
   We all get times when everything in our life seems to be busy, and there just doesn’t seem any chance of down time. Living on adrenaline like this can mean that you are scared of missing out so you keep hopping from one thing to another.  It’s also not good for those around you because eventually you’ll crash.  If you’re anxious, lacking energy, sleeping badly or permanently on a short fuse, these are signs that you need to slow down and readdress your balance.
5. Stop trying to be perfect – don’t put extra pressure on yourself.
   Let’s face it no one is perfect and the sooner you remember that the better your life will be.  Having a pristine house isn’t more important than catching up and having lunch with a friend.  Not serving restaurant quality food every night after a long day at work is not going to make your partner/ family unhappy.There are only so many hours in a day and you shouldn’t be putting unnecessary pressure on yourself because you think it’s what is expected of you.
6. Delegate – don’t try to do everything yourself.
   Just because your partner doesn’t iron or cook like you would, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t delegate these tasks. Sometimes as long as they get done, even if it isn’t to your standards, isn’t it better that it’s done and then you can enjoy doing more fun things.  Equally at work, don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to colleagues and ask for help, you’ll be no good to anyone if you start to feel unwell and can’t function 100%.
7. Re-organise – the essential jobs of everyday life.
   I don’t think there are many of us who enjoy the battle of the supermarket shop.  If you have to rely on the supermarket then think about doing your food shop online, which will save you a few hours a week. Alternatively turn it into a more pleasurable experience by seeking out independents and picking seasonal fresh ingredients.  If it’s always you who takes the kids to their after school classes see if you can alternate with another parent, or ask your partner to take a turn.  Whatever your essential everyday jobs are, look to see how you can re-organise them to give you more time.
8. Have a free weekend – to slow down and enjoy the simple things.
   We are all so busy filling our time but by prioritising one weekend out of five where you aren’t rushing around will definitely make you feel more relaxed and energised.  Take this time to slow down and enjoy simple pleasures that make you happy to be alive.  Take a book to your favourite coffee shop and spend a few hours in another world or start watching a new box set.  Give yourself a home pamper session or call a friend to catch up. Whatever makes you stop and slow down, do it.
9. Set a SMART goal – and spend one evening a week seeking to achieve it.
   If there something you’ve want to try then now is the time to do it.  It may not mean attending a class every week, but you should certainly put time aside each week to dedicate to achieving your goal.
10. Write your bucket list – and starting doing the things you’ve always dreamed of.
    Think about what you have always wanted to do and set about thinking how long it might take you to achieve them.  Add both short term and long term activities so you can feel proud of accomplishments. There is just as much joy in planning these activities as there are in achieving them.

 

Now you should be all set to live a better balanced life.