Properly separating professional and private life is important. It ensures that you get enough rest, and can attend to both personal and work needs. It is also necessary for good mental and physical health. In the workplace, your inability to create a work-life balance that works for you can lead to stress which can lead to burnout.
Maintaining a work/life balance has become increasingly difficult because of modern technological advances and changes in work patterns. However, establishing boundaries and setting aside time for your most important needs is possible.
Tips for striking the perfect work-life balance
Getting the most out of your work life:
Go to and leave work at the same times each day. If you are never certain of when your work day will begin or end, it can be difficult to separate it from your personal life.
Say no to unreasonable work requests. Let your supervisor know your boundaries. Remember that not every opportunity is a great opportunity, or one that makes sense for your private or professional life.
Prioritize your work tasks. Set aside time specifically for work. Don’t be a perfectionist—no one gets everything right every time. Focus on doing your work as best you can, accept when you make mistakes, and learn from them.
Delegate as much as possible. If you have others that work with or for you, make sure to assign a reasonable amount of tasks to them, instead of trying to do everything yourself.
Enriching your personal life:
Recognize when you do not have a good work/life balance. When you are so busy with work-related tasks that you have no time for yourself, family, friends, or community, you should reassess your work/life balance.
Focus only on your personal life outside of work hours. Leave thoughts about work at work. When at home, focus on family matters, hobbies and personal interests.
Define yourself as something other than work. Take up a hobby, Make time for non-work friends. Set aside time for non-work activities you enjoy (seeing movies, going for a walk, etc.)
Develop relationships outside of the work environment. If you are good friends with your coworkers, consider establishing a rule to discuss work only during office hours.
Spend time alone. Taking a break now and then from everyone else—including coworkers, family, and friends—is a good way to deal with stress, to relax your mind, and to improve your mood.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness routines can be a wonderful way to both manage your stress levels, and also separate your work life and home life. Mindfulness helps you to focus on the present moment, rather than the future or the past, and also helps you to simply notice what is happening around and within you, rather than judge it.