Photo courtesy of hickoree

Whether you’re just starting out in your professional career or you’ve already established yourself, but would like to improve yourself, this 4th Habit of Highly Productive Nigerian Professionals will help you maintain Work/Life Balance in your career.

So far, I’ve discussed three habits:

• Habit #1 - Plan
• Habit #2 - Organize
• Habit #3 - Read 

Consider a Nigerian Banking professional who has to work over 60 hours per week, from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays, coupled with hours of working overtime. In order to achieve work/life balance, he/she would need to maintain the right physical, spiritual, mental and emotional balance needed to be successful in life.

Habit #4 ~ Balance

No doubt, professionals always have a busy schedule. However, in order to be more productive in your career as a professional, you should strive to balance your work and life.

Let me share with you 7 areas to concentrate on for your Work/Life Balance and thus become more productive in your career life.

#1 Work Health

To keep and maintain work/life balance, every professional needs to examine the health condition of their work. Here are a few tips:

1. Work overtime only on special occasions, that is, only when you must.
2. Leave your work/tasks at the office. Avoid taking them home.
3. Work moderately and have a work pace. Avoid stressing yourself out.
4. Organize your work such that it doesn’t interfere with other commitments.
5. Create a harmony between your work and work life.

#2 Family

Your family is important to your maintaining work/life balance, hence, productivity in your career. Here are a few tips:

1. Communicate well with the members of your family.
2. Spend quality time with your family. Play with your children.
3. Participate actively in family celebrations (birthdays, etc)
4. Speak with your family members even during your working hours.
5. Create a harmony between your work and family life.

#3 Recreation

Recreational activities can help you find work/life balance. Here are a few tips:

1. Participate in social gatherings with friends, colleagues, etc.  
2. Invite your friends and colleagues to your home.
3. Engage in a sport/hobby that would improve your work.
4. Learn to laugh and smile with colleagues while at work.
5. Create a harmony between your work and recreation.

#4 Personal

As a professional, you need personal time to regroup to keep your focus. Here are a few tips:

1. Spend time alone everyday communicating with yourself.
2. Try to relax and rest for 30 minutes everyday. Take a nap.
3. Use some time for meditations; send yourself positive mental messages.
4. Practice living a simple life. Avoid stress in your life.
5. Create a harmony between your work and personal life.

#5 Spiritual

Your spiritual well-being can add value to your productivity. Here are a few tips:

1. Take your worship or faith seriously.
2. Read your Bible or Koran.
3. Practice meditation and prayer.
4. Engage in christian or muslim activities.
5. Create a harmony between your work and spiritual life.

#6 Health

The saying: “Health is wealth” is so true. Your health determines your effectiveness in your work. Here are a few tips:

1. Eat nutritional and well-balanced meals.
2. Take regular medical check-ups.
3. Visit your doctor when you have to.
4. Manage stress in order to avoid fatigue.
5. Create a harmony between your work and health life.

#7 Exercise

Most professionals don’t have time for exercise or don’t take it seriously. To keep and maintain work/life balance and also stay fit in your job, you need regular exercise. Here are a few tips:

1. Engage in aerobic exercise or run every morning for 15 minutes.
2. Take short walks instead of driving or commuting.
3. Register with a fitness club or a yoga class.
4. Use the stairs instead of the elevators/escalators.
5. Create a harmony between your work and exercise.

The 5th Habit of Highly Productive Nigerian Professionals will be discussed next.

To your career success!

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Tags: Career Tips