In this episode, Niamh discusses a topic that resonates with everyone: work-life balance. She provides a practical guide to assessing your current situation and offers actionable steps to help you rebalance your life by focusing on time, attention, and energy.
It’s easy to feel like your work-life balance is out of control, leading to stress. Niamh states that this is a common challenge for many people. Work-life balance is a personal concept and what feels like an imbalance to one person may not for another, depending on their personal and work circumstances. According to Niamh, this feeling of being off-balance is normal and a part of the human experience. She suggests that imbalance typically stems from three key areas: time, attention, and energy.
A time imbalance can happen when you work late into the night, leaving you with no time for other parts of your life, such as family or friends. Attention is about being physically present but mentally distracted, like checking emails during dinner. An energy imbalance occurs when you give 110% at work and are too exhausted to enjoy your personal life by the weekend. By understanding which of these drivers is affecting you, you can take a crucial first step towards finding a solution.
Niamh recommends a self-reflection exercise to help listeners identify their specific issues. She suggests asking questions such as: "What's being pushed aside in your life right now?", "Are certain relationships feeling neglected?", and "What's been on your to-do list for weeks because you can't find the time?". She also recommends journaling for a few minutes each day to find patterns in what's causing the imbalance.
Assess the "Why": Work-life imbalance is often caused by a lack of time, attention, or energy, and identifying which of these is the main cause is the first step towards a solution.
Start with Small Steps: You don't need to completely overhaul your life. Instead, make small, practical changes that can have a big impact. For example, block off just 15-30 minutes a day for what matters most.
Set Boundaries: If attention is the problem, start by setting small boundaries, like turning off email notifications after dinner or setting "do not disturb" for one hour during the workday.
Remember to Rest: If energy is the issue, remember that it's not selfish to rest. Try taking micro-breaks, going to bed 15 minutes earlier, or drinking more water.
Ask for Help: You don't have to do it all alone. Ask for support from your team, manager, or family and friends.
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Download the Goal Ladder Guide to support you in setting and achieving goals to improve your work-life balance.
Learn more about Niamh’s self-paced productivity course, The Better Workday Blueprint, to help you work smarter, not harder.
Welcome to The Better Workday Podcast with your host, Niamh Moynihan. Niamh is the founder of Better Workday. She will challenge you to think differently about how you manage your time, energy, attention and relationships at work to be successful while supporting your well-being.
In each episode Niamh shares new insights and practical ideas to help you create a better workday.
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