Juggling a day job, a social life, and a family all at the same time is nowhere near easy. The dream of becoming successful in your chosen field is really important — but at what cost? Remember that you don’t have to willingly lose yourself in the process.

If you’re wondering if there’s such a thing as a win-win situation in achieving and maintaining a work-life balance, well there is. Here are six secrets to improve your work and life balance:

Time management

Do you always feel like time is running out? As if 24 hours a day is not enough for the amount of work you’ve got to do for your work and personal life. If you’ve been experiencing this kind of struggle, then you are probably being controlled by time.

Ironically, the only solution to this is to take over and control your own time; don’t let it control you. Implementing effective time management strategies might help you focus on different, important aspects of your life equally.

Here are some of the tips to step up your time management game:

• • Create a time audit.

First things first, you have to identify the part in your routine that needs improvement. In order to do so, you can start by observing how you spend your time in a day. List down the activities that you usually do every day and create a time audit. From there, you’ll be able to distinguish whether you allocate enough time for each of your tasks or not.

• • Determine your priorities.

After collecting, analyzing, and examining how you actually spend your time, you have to identify and assess what should be on top of your list.

You have to ask yourself, “Should I prioritize this task?”

Categorizing your tasks will make you focus on what’s really important. By doing this, you’ll be able to provide results with greater benefits.

• • Do a timeline for long-term activities.

It’s nice to keep track of your daily activities, but you need to think long-term if you want to have a more sustainable and manageable schedule. To accomplish this, you may create a timeline of your work activities and other personal errands.

If you’re having trouble drafting your own timetable, you can use project timeline templates that are widely available online. You can find one of these on PDFRun.

Modify daily routine

Doing the same routine every single day gives you the feeling of familiarity and comfort. This might lead to burnout.

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion where one might feel stressed, pressured, and completely drained out. If you reach this point, then you are obviously not maintaining a healthy work and life balance.

You should consider having the time to rethink some things. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to end up feeling like this in the long run, would you? Worry not, because there’s still something you can do about it.

One of the solutions in this scenario may not be that easy but is certainly attainable. Nothing is set in stone. You have to start doing the math in your daily routine. Think about what should be added, taken out, fast-tracked, and delegated.

If you feel stuck, then you’ve got to change something to get out of that rut.

Befriend technology

In this modern world, technology has come up with a lot of new, innovative things to make our lives easier. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we won’t maximize its uses and fulfill its purpose?

You’ll be surprised to know how convenient it is to use new technologies in maintaining your work and life balance once you’ve gotten its rhythm.

By simply learning how to use mobile and desktop applications, you can save a lot of your time and pour it into other valuable activities.

A digital tool that can do wonders is electronic signature applications. Through it, you’ll never have to ditch a beach trip ever again just because your co-worker is asking you to drive back to town to get you to affix your signature on a single piece of paper. You can check out PDFRun’s electronic signature to try out this feature. 

Try working from home

The ability to work in the comforts of your home is a luxury that not every professional can afford.

One of the most alluring benefits of working from home is that you get to be surrounded by your loved ones. Having people who actually care about your physical and mental health builds up your inner peace and helps you become a better worker. There’s nothing better than feeling like you are not alone amidst all of the stress you’re getting from work.

Working from home may all be new to you, but don’t be afraid to work independently because the internet is a powerful tool to help you accomplish your tasks.

If you decide to work from home but worry about dealing with paperwork, with online applications that let you edit, send, and collaborate on documents, you can continue working like usual.

Make your workspace work

With a lot going on in your mind, the last thing you need is a cluttered workspace. Whether you’re in the office or you’re working from home, you have to find ways to make your workspace become a conducive working environment.

Be as organized as you can. There is no right or wrong procedure when organizing your work items. Who says a snack drawer is inappropriate? As long as you’re comfortable with your space, then all is well. Know yourself and follow your creative instinct. After all, it’s you who will be working in your workspace. You do you!

Give yourself a break

No matter how slammed or busy you are at work or in organizing family events, you still have to find time for yourself.

It doesn’t matter if it’s just a five-minute break or a week-long vacation; you have to learn how to breathe every now and then. You may sometimes forget that there’s still life outside work, but don’t worry because that’s completely normal. You just have to find ways to go back and enjoy the things you love.

Go on and read that book or bake that cupcake. It’s not a sin to do leisurely activities and rest, They are a necessity.

Putting work at the center of your life is just fine. However, it doesn’t mean that your whole world must only revolve around it. Take over your own life. Shower yourself with happiness and let yourself feel alive and thriving.