(1) Have your goals outlined

so nothing can impede you from enjoying yourself outside work. If you’re on track with your work goals, it allows you more liberty to be on track with your personal goals. One doesn’t necessarily have to overtake the other.

(2) Remember that taking breaks helps efficiency

It’s also why we sleep, you know. You have to recuperate, so you can be refreshed the next day.

(3) Prioritize Happiness

Even if your job makes you happy, you’re not at work 24/7, so you have to be realistic with yourself, finding things that energize you when you’re not locked in spreadsheets.

(4) Don’t neglect the things you love

Make time and conscious efforts to do the things you love (sports, art, entertainment, hobbies, etc.) - they also recuperate you

(5) Don’t neglect the people you love

The ability to work is a blessing, but so is having people to care about and hang out with. The relationships we build in our personal lives matter too. The people outside work matter too. Which leads me to the next tip…

(6) Know the distinction between work and personal, work and play

Separating these two will allow you to make time for both, rather than merging them and unconsciously making it an ‘either/or’ choice.

(7) Take that vacation

Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery to stimulate you after consistently working. Luckily from your responses in a December series episode last year, we got some travel recommendations: Shanghai, the South of France, the Philippines, Paris, Marrakech. Check out the episode here, and the blog’s travel section here.

(8) Don’t be afraid of distractions

Whether it’s a podcast episode, movies, shopping, reading, whatever it is that can get your mind off work when you’re not at work, utilize them to have a good work-life balance.

You only live once.