We’ve all heard of the phrase “work-life balance.” But the reality is, our daily responsibilities don’t always arrive in a balanced way. According to Gallup, Americans work an average of 47 hours per week, which equates to nearly six work days.
If our work doesn’t fulfill or enable us to focus on self-care, the concept of work-life balance is ever fleeting. It’s why we should aim for work-life flow instead of balance. When we’re in a state of flow, we’re going along with the rhythm instead of beating ourselves up if life isn’t in perfect order.
5 Tips for Work-Life Flow:
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Find a Company Worth Hustling For: this is paramount! Find a place that values your development, and aligns with your professional and personal goals. This will make you feel like you’re not only supporting their mission, but they’re also supporting yours.
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Create a Morning Ritual: before rushing on to the chaos of the day, give yourself the first hour to set the stage. Get a morning workout in, meditate, or walk your dogs. These can be rituals that help you feel like you put yourself in front of your day.
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Be Selfish: take your time when you need it. Shut your office door, take a nap in your car, leave work early when needed. We live in a world where we must hustle, but if you don’t take your time, your world will revolve around the goals of others.
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Be Understanding: understand that you won’t always have it all together. There will be a day that will not go 100% according to plan. When you realize it, take a moment and tell yourself it’s ok. If you can slip away, take a walk. But if you can’t, put your headphones in and listen to your favorite song.
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Ditch the World and Relax: sometimes, we just need a day for ourselves. There’s something special about leaving ourselves commitmentless for a day. Take the mental break and get a massage, watch Netflix all day, get your nails done, or just drink wine in your underwear.
Remember, on your deathbed you’ll never wish you worked longer hours at the office. When your cup is full, you have more to share and more to give to the world. Now get out there, and find your flow!
Daisy M. Chaffee is the Community Director South Bay, WeWork. She has a passion for wellness and has served as a corporate operations manager with fitness industry leaders such as Orangetheory Fitness, Equinox and ACTIVE Network, LLC