5 Obstacles Keeping You from Achieving a Work-Life Balance

We all have things we deal with in our daily lives. 

These range from taking care of our loved ones and pets to answering to our leaders as employees or dealing with our employees as leaders. 

Some of us work from home while others go to work every day. 

Our plans are often interrupted by meetings, parties, sporting events, travel plans, job interviews, family emergencies, health crises, and so much more. 

Being mindful while finding a balance between private and professional life can be challenging, but it does not have to be. 

Take a look at these five damaging attitudes that are keeping you from reaching that important balance between work and life.

1. You Are a Perfectionist. 

You are too hard on yourself. 

You are your worst critic. 

Yes, it is important to take care of your work, but it is equally important to take care of your private life. 

In the real sense, perfection is an illusion. 

If you find that you are often criticizing yourself and reliving your mistakes and how they made you feel, know that it is time to re-evaluate your expectations. 

Get used to the fact that it is OK not to be perfect.

2. You Give People 24/7 Access to You.

You need some breaks. 

Limit as much as possible calls from people contacting you on off work hours. 

Set aside a period each day when you don't attend to anything relating to work. 

Use that period to focus on what is necessary to get done for the next day. 

Read a book, listen to music, go out for a walk, or enjoy your favorite sport, movie/ TV show.

The same goes for work: take family breaks as needed to do your job. This applies to all aspects of life.

What you permit is what will continue. You must ensure you set boundaries and stick to them. 

"Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." -  Dolly Parton, singer

3. You React to Everything Immediately.

It is not necessary to respond to every email or reply to every text message immediately.

Set a time for reading and replying to emails. 

Whether at work or at home, social media can be a big distraction and a waste of time. 

Know when to use it without it eating into the time you're supposed to use for work or spending with family. 

Find the best time during the day to list the most important things you have to do for the next day.

It is good to find a system that works for you; it is best to stick to it.

4. You Confuse Busyness with Productivity.           

If you skip your breaks and stay awake all night, you may feel busy, but that does not necessarily mean you'll achieve more. 

Productivity is about doing things effectively, not about being a hero who does not sleep and eat because you're so busy. 

Focus more on organizing your tasks. You don't have to do it all by yourself. 

Delegate where possible; outsource when necessary. 

Make better use of your time.

"We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in - Arianna Huffington, author and businesswoman

5. You Live in One World When You Should Be in Another.

When you think about work at home or home at work, where is your focus? 

Are you most productive in both roles?

Learn how to leave family issues at home when you are at work. 

Your family needs to understand when a deadline must be met. 

However, you must also find a balance where all work-related issues stay at work so that you can be present at home, physically and mentally.

Biagio Triassi Helps connect Top talent for Hiring Team Success within Canada.