The modern workforce is hell-bent on chasing after their own successes. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to become successful per se, you shouldn’t do so at the cost of your overall health and sanity. Success will come on its own time, but your health can deteriorate if you don’t start taking better care of yourself.
Unless you want to suffer from serious health problems later, consider trying to achieve the elusive work-life balance now. You don’t have to do it in one fell swoop but knowing what changes or improvements you must make will help you gradually adopt the habit. Here’s how you can do it:
Work
One of the biggest advantages of working in the real estate industry is that you’ll have more control over your time than others who work 9 to 5 jobs. You’re free to meet with your clients at a time that’s convenient to you, and you won’t have to feel burdened by sticking to a strict schedule.
However, that freedom when it comes to managing your own time can be like a double-edged sword because instead of working on a fixed set of hours, you may feel like your work never ends. For instance, you find yourself constantly on the phone with your clients even when it’s well past your usual working hours.
So, if you can relate to this sentiment, then it’s a sign that you need to start setting boundaries around your work. But these should be boundaries that you can follow, not just ones for show. It could also help you achieve a work-life balance if you begin redefining the meaning of success.
Because society views working long hours as a metric for success, many professionals are forced to work themselves past their breaking point just to be deemed successful. They romanticize burnouts and poor mental health as if doing so can make them more successful.
But they won’t. They’ll just urge you to give more until you have nothing more to give. So, if you are truly determined to find the balance between your work and life, you must create your own metrics for success. This way, you won’t have to be pressured to be successful based on other people’s success markers.
You
The usual work-life balance formula is missing one essential aspect—you. Where do you fit into all these? Even when it’s not clearly stated, it’s implied that amidst finding the balance in your work and life, you must prioritize yourself too. This is because achieving the balance is useless if you won’t be able to enjoy it to the fullest.
So never compromise your well-being for the sake of keeping up appearances within the workplace and in front of your friends. If you think that your health is suffering because you’re working too hard, then take it as a sign to slow down and take a deep breath.
For example, if you’re feeling a lot of pain in your back from frequently moving from one place to another, then consider seeking treatment for it. A good way to address back pain is through advanced cupping therapy, which is a form of alternative medicine.
Aside from your physical health, you should prioritize your mental health because it’s just as important. Working too hard without enough rest and ample sleep can affect your ability to make decisions, so always make sure to keep tabs on your sanity. And if you need to take a breather, don’t hesitate to take one for your own good.
Life
The last part of the equation is the life aspect, which includes your relationships with your partner, friends, and family. This can also pertain to your preferred sources of entertainment and stress-relief activities, which are both necessary in maintaining what’s left of your sanity.
Most professionals who are too career-driven often put their entire lives on hold to focus on their work. And while that can be seen as an admirable feat from the employment side, it’s very unhealthy for the person doing it because anything too much is bad for the health.
Keep in mind that you’re working to live, not living to work. Even if you enjoy your job so much that it no longer feels like work, you should still take the time to bond with your friends and family away from your professional responsibilities. Learn how to strike a good balance.
Finding the balance between all your different responsibilities at work, at home, and in your personal life will make it easier for you to achieve the contentment you want to have. It may take some time before you reach that point but trust in the process because it’s worth the effort.
