Are You Creating a Life Outside of Work?

Many successful people know how to create a life outside of work. Often, they left college with a variety of interests and lots of friends. They had chosen a career that focused on income, status, and making an impact. As their workload increased, there was less time for social events and exercise. They bought a house and started a family, which increased the financial pressure and made their careers even more dominant.  

Many of these individuals became business owners and executives. Now, the idea of having a balance between work and their lives outside of work was permanently placed on the back burner. There would be plenty of time later to get healthier and spend more time with family and friends. 

However, many of those people find out at some point that achievements at work don’t make them happy anymore, and they struggle to find out what is going wrong since they aren’t getting the same satisfaction from their 12-hour days. 

A life outside of work can change all that. 

When you learn to maintain a work-life balance, what you do on the job is enhanced by what you are doing outside of work. Spending time on hobbies, connecting with friends and family, or volunteering can give you a different perspective, which can give you a much-needed creative boost. You will come into work re-charged and prepared to make a difference.  

That sounds great, but how do you find life outside of work when your full-time career is taking up you so much of your time? Start by taking a look at the way you work. 

Offload some tasks to free up more time. 

Successful managers plan their tasks by determining which items they can assign to others. If offloading doesn’t feel right to you, start some new habits to make it easier to identify those tasks you can delegate. You’ll end up being a better manager and a more efficient leader. 

First, allow the people in support roles to do their jobs. If you have an assistant, let him or her handle administrative tasks by giving access to your calendar. Offloading administrative tasks will keep you focused on the bigger picture and creating a life outside of work.  

And don’t limit delegating to administrative tasks. If you do all the hiring, including the time-consuming interviews, consider offloading that, too. Delegators are successful at achieving a work-life balance because they have learned how to allocate their time best. 

Treat tasks as essential but not always urgent. 

You probably get lots of messages and calls that require a reply. Start asking yourself whether your immediate response would help you achieve your goals. If you believe it would, go ahead and answer. If not, give it a lower priority and leave it for later. 

Be sure about the priorities and stick to them. Write them down and place that memo on your work desk as a reminder. It is one more method toward creating a life outside of work. 

Are you looking for more ways to create a life outside of work?