The work-life balance challenge
limit so that you’re not spending too much of your time on just one thing. Write down how you’ll accomplish each letter of the acronym and separate each task into “buckets” so they’re easy to manage and achieve separately. GTD: The term GTD stands for Getting Things Done and involves moving all of your tasks out of your mind, then sepa- rating each item into smaller chunks that are easier to achieve. With the GTDmethod, you’ll need to attach a time limit to each task. This makes it easier to do more in a shorter period
ORGANIZATION 101 Good organization is the key to a successful work- life balance. Here are some tips to help you stay organized whether you’re at the office or doing hybrid or remote work. Tips for creating and following a schedule • How to start: Start creating a schedule by simply writing everything down that you need to accomplish for the week or month. Once your list is in place, shuffle the tasks by order of importance or expediency. You can do this on a calendar, a sheet of paper, or on a dry erase board in your office so you can easily see everything in front of you at once. You can find templates online if you need help getting started. • Use digital tools: There are plenty of helpful digital tools at your disposal. Consider adding your tasks to things like Google Calendars or a board like Trello to help you organize items by priority and due date. • Track your time: Keep track of the time you’re spending on each task. There are several timers you can add to your web browser that can help you see how much time is being spent every day on any one particular task. AVOID DISTRACTIONS • Close unused tabs: Stay focused on work by closing out any tabs on your web browser you’re not using, like social media or news websites. This will help reduce distractions while you’re working on a task. • Find a quiet place to work: Whether you’re going to the office, doing hybrid work, or doing full-time remote work, set up your office so you can get work done in a quiet area without a lot of outside noise. • Try headphones: If you prefer to work in complete silence, consider using a pair of noise-reducing headphones to make concen- trating easier.
HOW TO ACHIEVE A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE
by Teresa Siqueira
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I f you have a busy career, attaining a healthy work-life balance can be a real challenge. There are many benefits to finding a good balance between work and home life, includ- ing less stress and increased productivity. Other benefits include improved relationships with family and friends and improved mental
of time without putting too much focus on any one particular thing at once. The main mantra of GTD is to “capture, clarify, organize, review, and engage.” Follow each of these steps carefully, and you’ll be able to prioritize your tasks more effectively. • Journaling: Another easy way to prioritize tasks is to write them down on paper. Make a list of all work and home-related goals, then separate each by the due date or in order of importance. Determine howmuch time you’re willing to spend on each goal or task, then allot your time accordingly. When you write this down, it’s much easier to eliminate tasks that aren’t really necessary while focusing more on the things you can actually achieve.
health. Once you follow a few simple steps, gaining the correct work-life balance is easy. Read on to discover some tips and tricks that will help you deal with the stress of a demanding job so you can attain the level of balance that works best for you. TIPS TO PRIORITIZE When you establish goals and prioritize tasks, you can get more done while gaining more free time. Try these techniques to help you set goals so that you can be more productive. • Try SMART Goals: The term SMART goals is an acronym that stands for keeping things Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Start by being very specific with your goals, then work on them in a meaningful and measurable way. Always be sure that every goal is com- pletely attainable and that they’re reasonable and relevant to you. Finally, give each goal a set time
111 MARCH/APRIL 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
110 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • MARCH/APRIL 2022
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