We have more labour-saving appliances, smart gadgets and improved ways of working than we have ever had before. However, this does not appear to be freeing up any time and most people seem busier than ever.

The pace of life, the pace of change, and the pace of technology is increasing at year on year. This is not necessarily a good thing for us as individuals. Perhaps we need to be aware that by slowing down a little we can improve our life immeasurably?

Everything seems fast these days from fast food, to fast deliveries of goods we order, to superfast Internet and smart lanes on motorways getting us to places quicker, the advances in technology are vast and enable us to carry out increasing numbers of tasks quickly and easily. Doing more things more quickly does not translate into more ‘me’ time though, in fact during what should be ‘me’ time we spend it in front of our mobile phones, tablets or laptops getting more stimulation and the more stressed we become as a result.

We are now in addicted to this fast pace of life, This ability to connect and be connected with information on the outside world every minute of the day. Next time you are on public transport please take a look around you and count up the number of phones that are being stared at as opposed to the number of people actually talking to one another. The result is frightening.

On the rare occasion when we might experience an Internet outage we are frantic because we are not connected and this expectation of constant connectivity means we are losing our relationship with the natural rhythms of life.

So how can we correct this shift to experience a slower pace of life?

Here are some ideas.

Digital detox.

If you truly believe you are addicted to your smartphone then why not try to detach yourself from the it for periods of time every week.? Initially, try an evening without the phone, then perhaps half a day, then a full day. You may be surprised at how enjoyable it is to read a book or concentrate on the television programme instead of it being on in the background. On public transport, why not leave the phone in your pocket and people watch or enjoy the journey.

Stretching.

A gentle 5 to 10 minutes stretching routine before bed each night whilst concentrating on your breathing will not only calm you this will also cooks you away from your phone before bedtime.

Exercise.

Go for a walk in the evening without your smart phone and enjoy the scenery in your neighbourhood take in the different architecture, trees and shrubs. This will have a calming influence.

The weekends.

There is a tendency to cram as much activity into leisure time as we possibly can. This somewhat contradicts the term leisure time! Why not schedule time just to sit in the garden and read, listen to music, have a coffee, enjoy the surroundings. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy this.

So your challenge is to fit periods of slow living in to your busy life and become engaged on a different level, allowing your mind to switch off and simply be you in achieving a great work / life balance.

Good luck!

Mayfair, we care.

Our world is a busy one. We have 24 hour rolling news day in, day out. There is always something new to worry about.

Many people have never worked so hard, for so long and with communications as they are, we are never out of touch with work. Even at the weekend and on holiday.

Is this good for us?

If we are always rushing, always feeling overworked, always on call, the reality is we are probably doing far too much for our own good.

The body will release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which can make us impatient, anxious, and irritated. This puts us under stress and can raise blood pressure with all the consequent problems associated with high blood pressure such as heart disease.

Why are we so reluctant to make our own lives that little bit easier?

Is it because we feel we might be judged by others as lacking ambition, energy and commitment? Or do we worry that if we do slow down, the to do list will just become out of control?

Okay, so we want to slowdown for our own benefit. How do we go about it?

Prioritising tasks

1.      Sort your to do list out into three levels of importance and concentrate firstly on level one. Even if these are the tasks that you least want to tackle, you know that they are important and you will feel so much better for having tackled them and got them out of the way.

2.      Avoid multitasking. In the work situation multitasking can lead to a number of jobs being half done and taking twice as long! 

Tackle one job at a time but do it thoroughly and properly to your own satisfaction and high standards.

 3.      Delegate more. Many of us do not delegate because we believe “it is quicker to do it ourselves“. That is a fallacy. Which means that we either do not trust our colleagues or we have a basic insecurity and feel that to be seen delegating would be a weakness?

4.      Take breaks and exercise more. Regular breaks and exercise will keep you refreshed and make you feel better and more able to tackle the tasks on your to do list.

5.      Don’t be a slave to emails and messages. These days we are inundated with emails and text messages, What’sApp messages etc. and these can interrupt your train of thought on projects if you let it. Don’t let it!

Let your contacts know that you check your emails and messages once a day at 16:00 and deal with any important ones then. If something is very urgent then advise them that they should ring you! This will make a huge difference to your working day and guess what? You won’t receive many phone calls either.

In summary.

There is little we can do about a fast moving world and communications that seem to increase our workload rather than manage it better, but we can handle ourselves better and lead a less stressful lifestyle by taking small steps to improve our personal situation

And remember, Mayfair cares.

We are living in a fast-paced world where the ability to achieve a healthy work/life balance is becoming more difficult and almost impossible due to overwhelming business needs.

Employers are putting more pressure on their employees in a bid to keep up with the competition and on the other hand, employees are putting additional pressure on themselves in order to achieve greater results and reach the set target.

For many, the 9-5 has now become 8-7- and sadly, many have come to accept it.

It’s the same situation in the self-employed and the small business.

But it shouldn’t be this way. No matter how difficult it may seem, maintaining a good work/life balance is absolutely essential when it comes to good personal health, relationships, and a achieving a happy, productive lifestyle even in a very demanding career.

With the perfect work/life balance:

·         You will be less susceptible to burnout

·         You will keep health problems at bay

·         You will be able to put more focus where it’s due

So why is it becoming more difficult to achieve a good work/life balance? What do we get wrong about work-life balance?

It’s all About Juggling Family and Work

The truth of the matter is, it’s not how much time you spend at work or at home or in lifestyle activities - it’s also about how the quality of that extra time enhances your ability to put your best effort at work.

Fewer Working Hours, Happier Life

Most people also assume that the fewer hours they work, the happier their lives will be. Well this is just a, misconception. There are numerous factors that can affect work-life balance even for those who work 20 hours or less a week.

The perfect balance shouldn’t only take into account the number of hours you work, but also your hobbies, family, health and wellness, and even stress management.

What Works for My Colleagues Works for Me Too

Wrong.

No one knows you better than yourself. So it’s not right to assume that what your colleague does to get the perfect balance can work for you too.

If working longer hours during the week to get some time to guarantee quality time with your family during the weekend works for you, then go for it.

How Can We Benefit By Achieving the Perfect Work-Life Balance?

·         Your Productivity Will Increase

A healthy work-life balance will boost your productivity, both in your work life and personal life.

All you have to do balance your work, family time, and rest to stay fully functional and motivated.

·         You will have better Focus

When you have a healthy work-life balance, you will have greater control of where your focus remains.

This simply means that if you leave your work at the office, you will be in a position to fully focus on your family, relationships, and hobbies.

·         You will Experience Fewer Health Problems and Enhance Your Well-Being

When you experience burn out, you are not doing your health or well-being any favor.

Burnout leaves you completely exhausted and stressed out, and this can bring about many health complications.

With a good work-life balance, you will be less susceptible to health problems and greatly enhance your well being.

·         You will Love your Job More

Why do people say they hate their jobs?

Well, there could be many factors such as low pay or bad work ethics but evidently, many people with a poor work-life balance loathe their jobs.

If only they could try and balance the two, may be their jobs would suck a little bit less.

Additionally, you will have some more “me” time, you will stop missing out on important things in your life, and also enhance your stress management skills.

Always remember that achieving the perfect work-life balance most often comes down to your ability and dedication to prioritizing what’s most important to you.

And remember, Mayfair Cares.

Years ago, the lines between work and home were clearly drawn but today, if we were to be honest, most of us would acknowledge that with 24/7 communications, our work increasingly invades our personal lives.

According to an Ernst & Young study conducted in May 2015, 24% of employees in the United States confessed that their work life balance is becoming tougher and tougher to manage.

This was on top of a survey done by Better Life Index, who discovered that almost 12 % of employees work more than 50 hours per week.

Benefits of better work life balance to an individual

A person with a balanced working life rarely harbours feelings of resentment and being overworked towards their employer. This is because they have adequate time to spend with family as well as to engage in leisure activities.

Having a good work life balance allows an individual to lead a more active and enjoyable lifestyle which in turn makes them happier and healthier and a more reliable employee.

Benefits of a work life balance to an organization

Employees who feel that they have attained a work life balance are more likely to work overtime in order to assist where needed. They will not mind putting in the extra hours.

Employees also become more productive at work at the same time utilizing their time and efforts more efficiently. Their high morale will benefit the job environment.

When employees feel that their well-being is being put into consideration, they are more likely to be loyal to the company and stay in the job longer.

To maintain a better work life balance, follow these tips:

1. Track your weekly routine

Keep track of everything you do throughout the week both personal and work related. At the end of the week, review the list and determine what things were most satisfying as well as necessary. Get rid of those activities you don’t enjoy and in case of any concern, discuss with your employer and try to find an amicable solution.

2. Learn to say ‘no’

Most of the time we do things out of a sense of guilt or obligation. What most people don’t realise is that it is okay to say no. If you learn this principle, you will find yourself with more time in your life to do those things that you love.

3. Manage your time better

It is important to learn how to organise household tasks more efficiently. For instance, as opposed to trying to run all errands at the same time, try doing it in batches. Moreover, keep up a daily to do list to go by.

4. Take advantage of scheduling options

Find out about flexi hours at work, job sharing, compressed work weeks, working from home occasionally and other options that your employer may offer for scheduling flexibility. When you gain more control over your work schedule, you will feel less stressed out.

Creating a work life balance is an ongoing process so you need to keep on making adjustments accordingly. The rewards will be certainly be worth making the effort.

And remember, Mayfair Cares

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/06/24/labor-department-survey-suggests-work-life-balance-largely-unchanged-since-2003

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/work-life-balance/