4 Work-Life Balance Goals And How To Achieve Them - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 4 Work-Life Balance Goals And How To Achieve Them - Introvert Whisperer 4 Work-Life Balance Goals And How To Achieve Them Reports show that achieving work-life balance is something that the modern workforce is more mindful of than previous generations, making it a top priority for most working individuals today. For introverts, walking this shaky tightrope between time and energy allocated towards work versus enjoying life’s respites can present unique challenges, especially given that fact that, as has been pointed out on this blog before, we live in an extroverted culture where “the yardstick of goodness and success is measured by tendencies extroverts display.” This means that, to some degree and in certain regards, introverts have to work not necessarily harder, but we need to devote more energy to strategizing ways we can achieve success in the workplace. Additionally, at a certain point, human interaction becomes energetically draining rather than invigorating for introverts, meaning we must also strike a balance between time spent with others and time spent alone. When it comes to the work-life balance equation, the goal should be to minimize the depleting effects of work, and to maximize the recharging qualities of life â€" whatever that means for you individually. To help you achieve this goal, here are four subgoals for you to use as a guide to finding your own version of balance. Goal 1 â€" Be Your True Self At Work I’ve come across countless articles that advise introverts to seek work that involves very little teamwork and emphasizes autonomy. This advice, while well intended, is slightly shortsighted and also unrealistic. It also assumes that introverts do not enjoy working with others, which is certainly not the case. Rather than pigeonholing yourself in a career path blindly blanketed as “introvert-friendly,” continue to let your passion and intuition guide you. As you navigate your workplace, be confident in and vocalize your strengths so that others will begin to understand and respect how you work best. For example, if you’re a writer who works best when you have time to think on your own, but your coworkers often set up meetings and ask you to edit with them, politely explain that your time would be much better spent editing alone, and then discussing the changes later. This doesn’t mean you should never challenge yourself, but respecting your strengths (and insisting others do the same) will only make you a more productive and happy employee. Goal 2 â€" Improve Your Time Management Skills Unless you’re truly living your dream, no one really wants to take their work home with them. This is what work-life balance is all about, and it goes for everyone â€" extroverts and introverts alike. If you find that you’re consistently bringing work home with you, there are a few things to look at. If you know one of your weaknesses is time management and procrastination, seek out helpful tools like Pomodoro timers or other strategies that you know help motivate you. If there is simply more on your plate than you can handle, set up a meeting with your supervisor to see what can be done to lighten your load. If you work in an environment that makes it difficult to focus, find privacy, or let people know you’re busy, don’t suffer in silence. There are things you can do including blocking off time on the calendar or even booking meeting rooms for yourself. Goal 3 â€" Improve Time Spent With Family   It’s important to make certain times spent with family intentional, calm, and free from worry so that you don’t begin to associate family time with more, different kinds of stress. Again, the “life” part of the work-life balance equation should recharge you, not deplete you. For example, I personally categorize family outings as work, because they are stressful and depleting for me. Instead, and especially on particularly depleting weeks, I prioritize family movie nights. I personally love using Pure Flix for our family movie night. This family-friendly streaming service is a great Netflix alternative for families who don’t want to have to worry about age-inappropriate scenes unexpectedly popping up. Movie nights like this are also a perfect way for introverts to be able to still recharge while spending time with others. Goal 4 â€" Nurture Your Hobbies   Spending quality time with family and friends is important, but so is spending time with yourself. Respect your limits and don’t be afraid to tell friends no once you’ve allotted the amount of social time you’re comfortable with. Alone time isn’t just about doing anything, either. I know plenty of introverts who actually experience high anxiety when they feel pressure to “relax” and do nothing at home. If you experience this kind of anxiety, make time spent with yourself intentional. Hopefully, if you’ve followed the advice above, you don’t feel too depleted from work and have the energy left over to invest in your personal interests or hobbies in your free time. This can be anything from writing, reading, horseback riding, gardening, or simply taking yourself out to see a movie. Whatever it may be, do it for you. Author Bio: Leah Hastings has a strong passion for faith, which is important in her everyday life. Leah loves helping educate children and volunteering at her local soup kitchen. She enjoys reading during her free time and cooking for her family. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer