Do you, on seeing this image, feel a flicker of recognition?  Is this a partner, a friend… or even you?

During your career there will be times when you are stretched and challenged to achieve more, and you will feel enthused and energized by this.  At other times, how you feel may not be quite so confident and positive.  Pressing deadlines and an over-flowing in-tray may leave you behaving like our friend pictured above – someone who has lost sight of ‘going home time’ and has resorted to setting up camp in the office.

So, if your working hours are starting to creep up and loved ones are calling you in the office simply to check you are still alive, here are 3 quick-fix ways to get your work/life balance back:

1. Get Organised.  Create a master To Do list which captures your personal as well as professional commitments.  Diarise when you will attend to them.  For larger tasks, particularly those which require the input of others, carefully schedule your hands-on work-time and a completion date which will still allow for a small catch-up contingency.  Do this with every new Task as it lands on your To Do list.
2. Get More Done At Work.  Minimise distractions and interruptions over key work-periods.  Switch phones to voice-mail and close open email applications – create regular ‘focus-slots’ throughout the day to allow you to stay on top or your To Do list.  If you are interrupted by a colleague coming to your desk, explain that you are keen to finish off a particular task and specify a time when you will be free to give them your full attention.
3. Reduce Email Stress.  Manage your email inbox by creating folders which allow you to file emails by subject or sender.  Make full use of automatic rules, particularly for subscription emails or regular non-urgent emails which can quickly clog your inbox.  A streamlined inbox will allow you to quickly identify pressing matters which require your attention – if any of these add to your To Do list, manage when and how you will attend to them by diarising them as tasks for follow up.

By consistently applying this three-pronged approach to managing your time, distractions and interruptions will become a thing of the past.  Your desk will return to being a haven of calm productivity and your family and friends will once again enjoy the pleasure of your relaxed company.

For more information on how to bring focus and balance to your life, read our posts on Dealing with Overwhelm and Making New Year Resolutions Stick.

To find out more about Business Jigsaw’s coaching services, please click here.