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How to balance work and life?

We work to live, not live to work. But today's business atmosphere makes men work up to his last breath. Hectic schedules, boring jobs, detrimental deadlines... your jobs suck even the last drop of your blood. When money dominates the modern life, people do not find few hours to spend on their personal life and the new generation end up with an unbalanced lifestyle. You, at any cost, need to maintain a healthy balance between your job and life. These tips may be helpful to keep your personal as well as professional life well balanced.

Work-Life Balance does not mean an equal balance. Trying to schedule an equal number of hours for each of your various work and personal activities is usually unrewarding and unrealistic. Life is and should be more fluid than that. Your best individual work-life balance will vary over time, often on a daily basis. The right balance for you today will probably be different for you tomorrow.

As the first step, drop all the unnecessary activities. By making a concrete list of what really matters to you, you may discover you're devoting too much time to activities that aren't a priority, and you can adjust your schedule accordingly. You need to protect your private time. Carve out hours that contribute to yourself and your relationships. Guard your personal time fervently and don't let work or other distractions intrude. Protecting your private time often leads to greater satisfaction in both work life and personal life, greater productivity, and more creativity.

Accept help to balance your life. Allow yourself to rely on your partner, family members, friends or anyone who can render you a helping hand like watching the kids or running an errand while you focus on other top priorities.

Plan fun and relaxation frequently. Fun and relaxation are an essential part of living a well-balanced life. Until you get into the habit of taking time for yourself, set aside space in your planner for relaxation and fun. Plan what you're going to do and make any necessary arrangements, such as childcare, to ensure you'll be able to keep your commitment. Remember, you make time for what you want to make time for.

There is no perfect, one-size fits all, balance you should be striving for. The best work-life balance is different for each of us because we all have different priorities and different lives. However, at the core of an effective work-life balance definition are two key everyday concepts that are relevant to each of us. They are daily Achievement and enjoyment, ideas almost deceptive in their simplicity.

Flexible work schedule is another option. Working some hours in the office and some hours at home allows for more time with the family. Job Sharing is another alternative; two people can often share one position.

At work you can create your own best work-Life Balance by making sure you not only Achieve, but also reflect the joy of the job, and the joy of life, every day. If nobody pats you on the back today, pat yourself on the back. Also help others to do the same.

Story first published: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 12:07 [IST]