By Kristin Anne Danko
As someone who is in school, works full-time and has multiple “side hustles” and passion projects, I understand the struggle of work-life balance. I found two articles that highlight the importance of work-life balance and ways to achieve it.
The first article from Business News Daily, “How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance Today” by Marisa Sanfilippo, expands on ways to improve work-life balance while discussing the importance of taking time to decompress.
The second article, “7 Work-Life Balance Tips”, found on TheHartford.com, lists seven tips to achieve the coveted work-life balance. They highlight the mental and physical health benefits to taking time for yourself.
Drawing from these two articles and my experience working with work-life balance, I have three recommendations to help you achieve a balance.
Prioritize and make time for yourself - Whether it’s taking a vacation, meeting up with a friend, or going for a walk, take time to clear your mind and leave your work at the desk.
Set (and stick to) work hours - If your work day ends at 5pm, let it. Try not to check email at 7pm. If you have a more flexible schedule, allow yourself to work only during work hours you allot for yourself..
Be okay with saying “no” - Is your plate already full? If taking on another task would take time away from your personal life, say no.
The struggle is real! We put so much pressure on ourselves but having a balance between work and personal life is so helpful to alleviate some of that pressure. Joining a coworking space like The Back Office Studio is an excellent way to set those work boundaries and separate your professional from your private life.
Kristin Anne Danko is the Community Manager at The Back Office Studio. She earned her MA in arts administration from Eastern Michigan University. She is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Neighborhood Theatre Group, a non-profit theatre company in Ypsilanti.