Careermemos

Work need not be work. It should be fun; it should be invigorating. When work begins to be tedious, it will be time to revisit your perspectives. If your work begins encroaching on your personal life or vice versa, the invasion of territory redounds to one or the other being sacrificed. You get disillusioned and lose perspective. To maintain a healthier work-life, try these tips for size.

Balance your career and personal life. Gone are the days when you have to stay overtime at work to meet deadlines. There are a hundred and one ways to get things done more efficiently and effectively. Learn them so that you don’t have to bring your work home and stay up until midnight or work on weekends. Set your priorities straight. If your priority is your family, then don’t let work encroach on it. If you are single and can afford to have your career as your priority, work healthily though.

Use modern technology to your advantage. Used to be when you have to do everything yourself but thanks to computers and online and wireless technology, you have a lot of virtual assistants to do some of your work for you. Try online services for communication; not only are they cheaper, but they can be more efficient than you are. VOIP technology beats an overseas phone call anytime. Email and online conferencing leave free time otherwise used up in face-to-face meetings or out-of-town conferences.

Find a software that helps you track your schedules, your tasks and projects, and your communications. If you don’t have a personal assistant, this software will be very helpful in setting your day straight, from starting your work session to making a phone call to convening meetings and all.

Do flexi-time in working. Determine at which time of day you are at your most productive and do your most challenging tasks then. If you are a morning person, you can do decision making and sensitive proposal writing or project conceptualizing in the morning. Reserve your low-energy hours for ministerial or otherwise procedural work like filing and sorting your documents or mail. Leave time for coffee breaks and lunches away from the office and keep to those times. A computer program that reminds you when to take breaks or when you are overexerting your self can be very helpful. Telecommuting is widespread and a lot of companies allow them nowadays. Schedule your work-week so that you do not have to spend five days at the office. Let yourself be physically present at the office only for meetings or brainstorming sessions. What you can do on your laptop you can do on the run by telecommuting.

Say no and delegate. If you think you are indispensable, you will begin to be dispensable. You will wear yourself out and be a prime candidate for burnout or stroke. Learn to say no to demands or requests for assistance from your colleagues. Learn to delegate, not necessarily to office clerks but even to your computer software or your mobile phone. Pro-forma messages with automatic settings can be sent without your bidding. Have a list of things that require your physical attention and things that can be done online.

Treasure your time for yourself and live a healthier personal and career life.