What do you imagine when you hear “work life balance?” Perhaps you envision a picturesque scene of a happy and healthy business executive who has it all. She’s reached the C-suite of her organization with a cushioned salary that provides for her family. She spends eight to nine hours a day at the office and has plenty of time to exercise, spend time with her husband and kids and get a good night’s sleep every night.
“Work life balance, yeah right!” You sarcastically say to yourself as you think back on your own life.
You’ve put in endless hours at the office and never feel like you’re caught up. You don’t get the amount of sleep you need, exercise is a distant memory and family vacations include your laptop and business calls.
From your perspective, work life balance is a pipe dream. But it doesn’t have to be!
Let’s take a look at some of the top ways you can incorporate more balance into your life, so you can prioritize your health and spend more time with loved ones and doing the things you enjoy.
Work Life Balance Tips for Business Executives
1. Set Strict Meeting End Times
We’ve all been part of meetings that were scheduled to end at a certain time, but then went over another half an hour or longer. There are certainly times where this is unavoidable. But the key to work life balance is to make meetings as efficient as possible to have them end when they’re supposed to end. If you have a meeting scheduled at four in the afternoon, make it clear to your team that the meeting needs to end at five because you’re attending your daughter’s soccer game or your son’s music concert. This can help you maintain your family time and set a positive example for your colleagues and employees.
2. Participate in Valuable Leisurely Activities
Some days after work, all you want to do is collapse onto your couch and switch on the TV. Afterall, watching the latest local sports game or an episode of Friends is a mindless activity that can take your mind off work. But what value is watching TV bringing to your life?
We’re not saying to never kick back and binge Netflix or HBO, but activities that increase cognitive efforts are better for your overall health. For example, creative writing or playing an instrument can improve your problem-solving skills. And physical activity like hiking or swimming can improve your mood, lower blood pressure and raise your energy and concentration levels.
3. Make Time to Exercise
As we already alluded to above, physical activity is extremely important to your physical, mental and emotional health. No matter if you run, lift weights, cycle or play sports, exercise improves your personal wellbeing so much that it can even show in the workplace. When you’re in a healthier state of mind, you can handle stressful situations at the office better and set more positive examples for your team. If you’re not sure how to make time for exercise, try going to the gym on your lunch break or schedule a fitness class before or after work.
4. Pencil in More Sleep
According to the National Sleep Foundation, people ages 18 to 64 need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Genetics certainly play a role in how much sleep you actually need, but this is the current consensus on the amount of sleep required to function properly. If you average less hours of sleep than recommended, you risk health issues like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, memory problems, depression and much more. But, with the right amount of sleep, you’ll feel refreshed and energized, which can help you be more efficient and effective at work and in your personal life.
5. Practice Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness practice is a healthy way for you to slow down, breathe and focus on the present moment. As an executive, it’s easy to lose yourself in all your to-do lists and constantly being on-the-go. But take it from Thrive Global CEO Arianna Huffington, who realized she needed more balance in her life after working herself to extreme burnout. There is a real connection between your wellbeing and productivity, so make time for meditation to help you unplug and keep your mind healthy.
6. Eat a Balanced Diet
When you’re constantly on the go, eating gets pushed to the backburner and is eventually forgotten. How many times have you run out of the house with nothing but your coffee or forgotten to eat lunch because you were in back-to-back meetings? As annoying as eating may be, it’s imperative that you eat a balanced diet. This means proteins, healthy fats and carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits. Similar to exercise and cognitive-friendly activities, proper nutrition can improve your mood, memory, energy, concentration and problem-solving skills.
7. Establish Your Own Rhythm
Finally, it’s important for you to define your own work life balance. If 50-60 hours of work a week is too much, drop it down to 40-45 hours. If you need more sleep than the recommended amount, make sure you allot the appropriate amount the best you can. Everyone prioritizes their life differently, so don’t get hung up over how a colleague or other executives you know live their lives. Work life balance is necessary to live a healthy and fulfilling life, so find what works for you and stick to it.
Get Your Life Back on Track at Fountain Hills Recovery
As a business executive, you may feel that stress and pressure just come with the job. But has all that stress and anxiety caused you to turn to alcohol or drugs to try to cope and relax? Substance abuse isn’t a replacement for a healthy work life balance. But how are you supposed to get out of the toxic pattern you’ve found yourself in?
This is where Fountain Hills Recovery can help. As Arizona’s number one luxury drug and alcohol rehab facility, we can help executives like you successfully recover from addiction and bring balance back into their lives.
When you’re here, you’ll never be judged or shamed for your addiction. Every single member of our highly experienced team will treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve during treatment and recovery. And on top of that, you’ll stay in our luxury residences that are designed to make you feel as comfortable and safe as possible.
To learn more about our approach to addiction treatment and our luxury residences where you’ll stay, contact our admissions staff today.
