5 steps to improve your work-life balance

Imagine what it would be like to have that balance you are seeking in your life right now. See, hear and feel what it would be like to have the different parts of your life working in a way that feels right for you. 

What would it be like to have a greater sense of balance in your life?

• Are your work life and private life out of balance?
• Is one part of your life negatively impacting other parts of your life?
• Are you stressed out by what you have to do, day in, day out?
• Are relationships you have with others affected by a lack of control over your life?

The reasons for your feelings of imbalance will be unique to you. However similar your circumstances may seem to someone else, the exact problems causing the imbalance will be unique. The changes that might help restore some balance will also depend on your circumstances, priorities and what matters to you.

Steps to improving your work-life balance

Step 1: Identify and define what the ideal 'work-life balance' means to you.

Step 2: Identify those problems, barriers and obstacles that have prevented you from achieving that balance in the past or might make it difficult in the future.

Step 3: Accept your mission to consider how you might respond to those problems or challenges and move towards the work-life balance that you are striving for.

Step 4: Brainstorm ideas for each of those obstacles without immediately ruling them out. Acknowledge any critical response to those ideas, whilst writing down the idea anyway. You may even want to make a game of all the things you could try doing.

Step 5: Start putting those ideas into action, planning when you are going to do them. See what works and what does not, remembering to keep doing what works and adapt or let go of approaches that aren't helping.

Remember the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time, so break down those larger actions into manageable chunks. Treat some of these changes as experiments. If something doesn't work, consider what you've learnt from it and what you could try differently next time. Take your life forward from where it is now to where you want it to go one step at a time.

Life coaching can provide regular support as you work towards changes you've found difficult to make or maintain on your own. A life coach can provide accountability for the actions you choose to commit to. Coaching, whether online, by phone or face-to-face, can help you to identify where your priorities are and where you want to focus your energy, time and other resources.

When picking your life coach for that work-life balance, take time to find someone whose approach feels right for you. If they offer an introductory consultation, this can be an opportunity to ask questions and consider whether you feel comfortable working together.