Need to give ‘er and have no other option but to work hard? I’m sharing five steps to make sure that you still have work-life balance.

First, make sure you know the signs of overwhelm. This is critical because overwhelm slows you down, scatters your thoughts, and makes you less productive. When you need to knuckle down and buckle down, overwhelm is a huge cramp in your side. Watch last week’s video here for the detailed information or read the written summary so that you can learn the signs and then stop it in its tracks. 

Then, once you know those signs, here are five steps you need to take to ensure you have more balance.

Step 1: Set Work-Life Balance Goals

Without a goal, the likelihood of achieving work-life balance when you’re really busy isn’t all that feasible. When you set a goal, you make an intentional choice to add more balance to your life. With this goal, choose something that won’t add a lot to your already full plate. A great choice is to add some form of physical movement. This is a healthy way to deal with stress. A 30-minute walk in nature has been shown to lower stress hormones in your blood. Keep it simple and doable.

Step 2: Make Self-Care Non-Negotiable

Just like the oxygen masks in planes, ensure you take care of your needs so that you can take care of others’. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a day at the spa (though that is lovely). It can be as easy as brushing your teeth a couple of times a day, or washing your face before you go to bed, or drinking lots of water throughout the day.

Step 3: Get Clear On Your Vision, Purpose, and Values

People who have a strong connection to serving others have been found to be more resilient than those who don’t. When you do your work, think about the impact it has on others. Then, think about your vision. What are you working toward? Also, what do you have to look forward to? And, get clear on your values. Those who are able to incorporate their values in their day-to-day, experience greater overall satisfaction with their lives.

Step 4: Clear Your Plate

When the pressure is on, ensure you only take care of the need to dos, not the nice to dos or things others can do. This means that you will likely need to ask for support, or accept it when others offer. Maybe there are some volunteer duties that, while important, can be put to the side temporarily. Maybe you can delegate some things to others. Maybe it means lowering your standards in some areas. Do you need to wash the dishes every day, or can they be done every second or third day? Or better yet, can someone else do them? There may be easy choices to make here, but if you’re like most people, there will be some things on your plate that you’d love to remove but may involve a conversation that you’d rather not have.

Step 5: Set Boundaries And Say No

In order to clear your plate, give some thought to the current boundaries you have in place. If you don’t have any, set some and then be prepared to reinforce them. When you have clear boundaries, it is that much easier to know when to say no to opportunities that fall outside the line. When you say no, you’re actually saying yes to you and the priorities you have chosen to keep on your plate