Say buh-bye to hustle culture and hello to better balance with these tips from badass boss mama and founder of IIXIIST, Rebecca Klodinsky.
By Rebecca Klodinsky.
For too long hustle culture has been seen as the ultimate goal. And that we should be able to handle everything like a badass boss. But that’s not what we were built for. Because life happens. Marriage. Relationships. Break-ups. Break-downs. Kids. Health. Plus, if the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that wellbeing can no longer remain a box-ticking exercise.
It’s time to take back control of your life. Where work, productivity, connectivity and wellness come together. It is not easy task. But with a little resilience and courage, it can be done, mama.
“IT’S EASY TO BLAME OTHERS FOR YOUR WORK/LIFE CHALLENGES. BUT, IN REALITY, YOU MAY HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER FINDING BALANCE THAN YOU REALISE.”
1. Create Boundaries
Plain and simple, if work boundaries don’t exist in your life at the moment, create them.
It can be as simple as not checking your email before 7am or after 7pm. Or having a consistent schedule where you clock-on and clock-off at the same time.
While they can be challenging to abide at first, it does get easier with time.
Tip: Tell your co-workers, staff or family about your boundaries so they can help keep you accountable.
2. Schedule Personal Time
If you’re having trouble tearing yourself away from work, try scheduling personal time on your calendar.
If you make plans after work with friends, block the time on your calendar, as you would any other meeting.
It also helps to get reminders throughout the day so you’re not tempted to work through your plans.
Another idea is to use your lunch break to go to the gym. Get coffee with a friend. Or run errands you’ve been putting off.
Getting out of the office at midday is a great way to recharge and improve your productivity for the afternoon.
3. Get Comfortable Saying No
Many entrepreneurs have a hard time saying no to things. Whether it’s taking on additional work or accepting a last-minute meeting invitation.
While capitalising on new opportunities can do wonders for your business, it’s a one-way ticket to burnout if you’re not careful.
You know how much work is already on your plate, so only take on more if you can make it happen without getting stressed.
When someone asks you to do more work and it immediately invokes anxiety, that’s a good sign that you should probably pass.
4. Define Your Priorities
While you’ll never achieve the perfect balance, the first step is to get clear about your list of wants and needs.
This list will differ for everyone, so make sure it reflects your priorities.
Typically, there’s a range of components that influence work/life balance – from securing a flexible schedule, having more time for family and hobbies, not having to work overtime, being able to take breaks during the workday and having the ability to take sufficient vacation time without being made to feel guilty for taking it.
Ask yourself what’s most important to you now – Do I need to work from home full-time? Do I want more vacation time? Would I be happier if I could take time for exercise during the workday?
Only after you acknowledge your specific drivers, can you be clear about the best solutions.
5. Focus On What You Control
It’s easy to blame others for your work/life challenges. But, in reality, you may have more control over finding balance than you realise.
A quick fix for greater work/life ease is to account for how you spend your time, zero in on priorities and cut out the fluff.
Our to-do lists tend to be filled with tasks that might be nice to do in a perfect world, but don’t fit our imperfect lives. It’s better to focus on two or three achievable things within your control.
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