How To Find That Elusive Balance Between Work and Life
Variety is a good thing — it keeps life interesting. So mix things up a bit. Here are some ideas for doing that:
Schedule time blocks. This is good for those who use their calendar a lot or can stick to schedules well. Schedule chunks(厚块,一定数量) of time throughout your week for all the things that are important. I suggest scheduling everything but work first (unless you’re on a set work schedule and always start and end at the same time) … this will ensure that you get everything in and that work doesn’t overwhelm the schedule.
Set limits. This is good for work or anything else that you tend to do too much. If you work 10-12 hour days, for example, set a limit of 8 hours per day, and stick to it. What I’ve found is that if you set a limit (of 8 hours or 4 days or whatever), you’ll find a way to do the essential tasks within that limit.
Make dates with family and friends. Instead of just saying, “I want to spend more time with my family and friends”, try actually making dates with them. That might mean romantic dates with your spouse or significant other, or non-romantic dates with your friends or kids or other family members. You don’t have to call it a date, but just schedule time with them on a regular basis to do something together.
Make dates with yourself. Often we make time for our family or other loved ones, but we neglect ourselves. Schedule time for yourself, doing something you love doing by yourself.
Examine your life regularly. I use my running time as a time of reflection, and you should use your alone time similarly if you can. Often our lives become derailed from(出轨) the track we set it on, and as a result we don’t realize where our lives are going until we really examine them.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” - Albert Einstein