Let’s face it. Work-life balance is a distant dream for most of us. It was the same way for me, too. No matter how hard I tried, I never seemed to be able to complete what I started on time. And mostly what I managed to do – was not up to my expectations.

A research report in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine says working women are deeply affected by family expectations, household demands, company policies, unsupportive supervisors and inflexible work schedules. Women in India have a much more difficult work-life balance act versus men.

Perhaps the Universe saw my plight and decided to guide me towards the answers as to how could I achieve my state of balance.

Reading up self-help guides and experiences of others were a start. But we’re all wired differently.  I understood that the answer to my question lay inside of me. I only had to filter out the noise around me and centre myself in order to find it. I spent time introspecting as to what really mattered to me, what did I want from my life and how could I achieve it. There was no complex process involved and my only tools were a notebook and a pen.

And my list of work-life balance how-to’s emerged. I am sharing them with you below :

Done is better than Perfect.

It is easier to be perfect when one is younger. As responsibilities increase – due to family demands and work pressure – trying to be perfect every-time will have its share of larger challenges.  Executive coach Marilyn Puder-York,  author of The Office Survival Guide believes that the healthier option is to strive not for perfection, but for excellence.

Be in the Moment

While technology has made our work easier, it’s also led to us being accessible 24/7.  Working from home can also have one putting in extra work hours – as the commute time turns into work time. It may seem tough – but one needs to focus on being in the moment. No mixing work with family time. And vice-versa.  Some quiet-time in the morning and evening where one can focus on oneself using techniques of meditation can also help immensely.

Fitness First

A consistent physical fitness routine pays rich dividends. But in the long run.  A qualified fitness advisor is worth their weight in platinum.  Their guidance and motivation can ensure a difference in energy levels and endorphins that makes the day a breeze. Or not.

Prioritise. Every time.

To-do lists are the first step to making things happen. Make one for work and one for personal stuff.  Finish off the smaller and easier things first. If there’s a task that needs focus and thinking – try working on it early in the morning when you’re fresh and the world is quiet.  The bottom line is that one should be happy doing whatever we do. If by some chance an activity doesn’t give us joy – then it’s best to do something that does. And come back to the original task – ready to tackle it in a high life condition.

Writing down yearly goals is also a great first step to manifesting intent.  You can break them down into quarterly and even monthly goals. Also try and figure what you will give of yourself in terms of time and effort to make the word a better place. Find what works for you and keep at it.

Sift the Wheat from the Chaff

This is about doing away with things and people who mindlessly eat into one’s time and bandwidth. Including stuff that may even be addictive and incredibly difficult to get away from.  Things that drain one’s energy. The first step is to recognise that these things exist in one’s life. Recognising how different our lives would be minus these elements – can set one off on the path to deleting them from our lives.  And conscious effort to move away – is what will make it happen.

Ask for Help. Or Delegate

Even Super-Woman needs back-up. Support. Help. Even mechanical systems have a back-up don’t they? And you never know where that support may come from and how will it pan out. One needs to ask for it.  Be it help with kids, a work-project or even in dealing with a situation.  Think of who could help. And just ask.  You’ll be surprised and pleasantly so.

These are the pointers that have helped me correct my work-life balance. And it’s emerged from within me – and because I took time to invest in myself to make that happen. Remember what they tell you during flight-safety instructions  ? Secure your own oxygen mask before helping others. When it comes to one’s different roles as a professional, partners, parent or friend – balancing them out by investing in oneself will ensure a better you.

A you that can perform those roles much better.