5 Tips for Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
Manyesha Batist is a Denver-based life coach and mother of two who specializes in helping people achieve breakthroughs in fear, unworthiness, negative thinking and spiritual stagnation to enjoy purposeful lives. She combines traditional life coach training and 16 years of journalism experience to ask powerful, thought-provoking questions that help clients generate self-awareness and healing. Here are her tips for striking the right balance when it comes to your career and your personal life:
#1: Make Time for Yourself
Batist explains, “Women often ignore themselves while taking care of their families. We can lose our sense of self and our sense of purpose in taking care of others. It’s crucial that we maintain who we are. The better we care for ourselves, the better we can care for others.” Take 15 minutes to do your nails or 10 minutes before bed to read a book or watch a favorite show.
#2: Spend Time With Girlfriends
No matter how deep your soulmate connection is with your husband or partner, the closeness we feel is different than what we feel with our girlfriends. “Girlfriends relate to you in ways that your husbands never will because as men, they’re just built differently,” says Batist. Girlfriends can meet for coffee and still be talking, laughing and bonding four hours later while men generally would tap out after an hour. It’s not a value judgment, it’s just a fact of nature.
#3: Say NO
Be OK with others not being OK with it. “By refusing to be a people pleaser and not allowing others to dictate your decisions, you’ll experience freedom and a greater connection with yourself.”Saying “No” doesn’t mean that you lack the strength to take on projects or opportunities to help others, it means you have the strength to understand your limitations so that you can devote your energy to things in life that matter most.
#4: Make Time to Share “Aha” Moments With Others
It helps build your connections with others, notes Batist. “It reminds you of life’s joys and allows you to really feel gratitude. People who are connected with other people tend to live longer and lead healthier lives. We’re built for connection.” The more you share, the more memories are stored in your brain so that positive experiences are easier to re-experience. Your body and mind will benefit positively.
#5: Take Time Each Day to Sit in Quiet
Batist explains, “Pay attention to your body and your environment. If you have an active mind, don’t condemn yourself. The “noise” will diminish.” Take time-whether it’s three minutes or 10-to sit in quiet when you know you won’t be interrupted. Batist adds, “You can also sit in gratitude. Think about an experience that you’re grateful for. Immerse yourself in the memory and focus on why you’re grateful for it. Close your eyes and relive that experience. Allow yourself to be present in it once again.” This exercise allows your mind and body to be restored, recharged and refreshed.
Shelley Moench-Kelly is a New England-based writer and editor whose freelance clients include Google, L’Oreal Paris and TheWeek.com. You can follow her on Facebook
