Are you doing too much? I am sure you have heard the words “you’re doing too much,” whether directed at you or at someone else. Depending on the context, the phrase could mean that a person thinks you are too heavily involved in several different activities and have no work-life balance. Sometimes, the words sometimes come from a place of love like when a person wants to let a friend know that they have taken on too many tasks. So, when you hear those words, here are a few tips to assess if you are indeed doing too much or if the words are just an opinion.
1. Who said the words?
If the words came from someone close to you or someone you trust, then the likelihood is that the person wants you to pay attention to where you might be spreading yourself thin. They may notice that you have many obligations, but not enough time to contribute to all of them. Sometimes our friends and those close to us have to remind us to take care of ourselves.
2. What does the person know about the task?
For example, I have worked with several organizations where a task takes much more effort than one would assume. In such cases, someone who has never worked on a similar task might think a person is doing too much, yet those who have worked in the area before understand what it takes to get the job done and to get it done well.
Sometimes people assume we are “doing too much” when they do not fully understand what it takes to get a job done. This is also a reminder for us to seek information about things before we speak on things we do not fully understand. Otherwise, it becomes easy to hinder others with our words.
3. Is the person on your level?
Now, this question is not to evaluate whether you are better than someone, but rather to reflect on where you are in life, your perspective on life, and your personal/professional development in certain areas. If you are in a season of giving your time and talents to others, someone who is not yet in that season or does not see giving to others as important could think you are “doing too much.”
In fact, in such cases, what you’re doing may be too much for them to handle and they can’t figure out how you get it all done. So to them, it’s doing too much. Thus, they are not currently on the same level as you and cannot understand what you are doing.
Regardless of which it is, we might actually be doing too much if you do not have a work-life balance. Balancing your professional and personal life can be challenging, but it’s essential. Often, work takes precedence over everything else in our lives. Our desire to succeed professionally can push us to set aside our own well-being. Creating a harmonious work-life balance or work-life integration is critical, though, to improve not only our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, but it’s also important for our career.
When creating a schedule that works for you, think about the best way to achieve balance at work and in your personal life. I will tell you that work-life balance is less about dividing the hours in your day evenly between work and personal life and, instead, is more about having the flexibility to get things done in your professional life while still having time and energy to enjoy your personal life. There may be some days where you work long hours so you have time later in the week to enjoy other activities.
Here are six ways to create a better work-life balance:
1. Accept that there is no ‘perfect’ work-life balance.
When you hear “work-life balance,” you probably imagine having an extremely productive day at work. Then leaving early to spend the other half of the day with friends and family. While this may seem ideal, it is not always possible.
Don’t strive for the perfect schedule; strive for a realistic one. Some days, you might focus more on work, while other days you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. Balance is achieve over time, not each day.
Like, Heather Monahan says; “It is important to remain fluid and constantly assess where you are [versus] your goals and priorities,”. At times, your children or pets may need you, and other times, you may need to travel for work. Whatever the case, allowing yourself to remain open to redirecting and assessing your needs on any day is key in finding balance.”
2. Find a job/BUSINESS that you love.
Although work is an expected societal norm, your career shouldn’t be restraining. If you hate what you do, you aren’t going to be happy, plain and simple. You don’t need to love every aspect of your job or business, but it needs to be exciting enough that you don’t dread getting out of bed every morning.
It is best to find a job or business that you are so passionate about. If your job or line of business is draining you, and you are finding it difficult to do the things you love outside of work, something is wrong. “You may be working in a toxic environment, for a toxic person, or doing a job that you truly don’t love. If this is the case, it is time to find a new job and business.
Pay attention to when you are most productive at work and block that time off for your most important work-related activities. Avoid checking your emails and phone every few minutes, as those are major time-wasting tasks that derail your attention and productivity. Structuring your day can increase productivity at work, which can result in more free time to relax outside of work.
3. Prioritize your health.
If you are familiar with this blog, you know we prioritise self-care. So, your overall physical, emotional and mental health should be your main concern. If you struggle with anxiety or depression and think therapy would benefit you, fit those sessions into your schedule, even if you have to leave work early or ditch your evening spin class. If you are battling a chronic illness, don’t be afraid to call in sick on rough days. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly causing you to take more days off in the future.
Prioritizing your health first and foremost will make you a better person. You will avoid missing work, and when you are there, you will be more productive.
Prioritizing your health doesn’t have to consist of radical or extreme activities. It can be as simple as daily meditation or exercise. Here are a few tips on how to prioritise self-care.
4. Don’t be afraid to unplug.
Cutting ties with the outside world from time to time allows us to recover from weekly stress and gives us space for other thoughts and ideas to emerge. Unplugging can mean something simple like practicing reading a book.
Sometimes, truly unplugging means taking vacation time and shutting work completely off for a while. Whether your vacation consists of a one-day staycation or a two-week trip to Bali, it’s important to take time off to physically and mentally recharge.
Employees and business owners are often worried that taking time off will disrupt the workflow, and they will be met with a backlog of work when they return. This fear should not restrict you from taking a much-needed break.
The truth is, there is no nobility in not taking well-deserved time away from work; the benefits of taking a day off far outweigh the downsides. With proper planning, you can take time away without worrying about burdening your colleagues or contending with a huge workload when you return. Taking that time to unwind is critical to success and will help you feel more energized when you’re on the clock.
5. Make time for yourself and your loved ones.
While your job and business are important, it shouldn’t be your entire life. You were an individual before taking this position, and you should prioritize the activities or hobbies that make you happy. Achieving work-life balance requires deliberate action.
If you do not firmly plan for personal time, you will never have time to do other things outside of work. No matter how hectic your schedule might be, you ultimately have control of your time and life.
When planning time with your loved ones, create a calendar for romantic and family dates. It may seem weird to plan one-on-one time with someone you live with, but trust me, it will ensure that you spend quality time with them without work-life conflict. Just because work keeps you busy doesn’t mean you should neglect personal relationships.
Realize that no one at your company is going to love you or appreciate you the way your loved ones do.
6. Set boundaries and work hours.
Set boundaries for yourself and your colleagues, to avoid burnout. When you leave the office, avoid thinking about upcoming projects or answering company emails. Consider having a separate computer or phone for work, so you can shut it off when you clock out. If that isn’t possible, use separate browsers, emails, or filters for your work and personal platforms.
Additionally, it is advisable to set specific work hours. Whether you work away from home or at home, it is important to determine when you will work and when you will stop working; otherwise, you might find yourself answering work-related emails late at night, during vacations, or on weekends off.
It is important that you notify your team members about boundaries beyond which you cannot be accessible because you are engaged in personal activities. This will help to ensure that they understand and respect your work limits and expectations.
Finally, once you’ve recognized your priorities and carefully considered the options that could help you improve, it’s time to take action. That can mean a “public” change — something that explicitly shifts your colleagues’ expectations, such as taking on a new role that’s designed to be less time-demanding or allows for a compressed-week model — or a “private” change, in which you informally change your work patterns, without necessarily attempting to change your colleagues’ expectations.
