If you are having a tough time trying to find a balance between the increasing workload of your career and your personal life, you are not alone. It is becoming increasingly challenging to find a balance between your professional life and personal life because many people are finding it necessary to put more hours into their careers. Even when people are not at work physically, they often have to stay connected with their business clients through their computers and smart phones. In the age of modern technology and information, keeping up to date with business changes has become very necessary.
Businesses are also cutting back on their number of employees and downsizing their overheads and expenses. This is putting further pressure on the remaining workforce, who are putting extra effort into their jobs. The cutbacks and layoffs in the workplace are also putting extra pressure on 
employees at work because they are afraid that they might become the next victim of the company’s downsizing policy.
We may not have control over our job situation or our workplace policies, but we do have control over other things in life that can bring a balance. You need to focus on the things that you can control, and try to create a balance in your life. Below are five tips that can help you to achieve a little more balance in your life.
Tip # 1: Manage your free time
If you manage and use every bit of your free time efficiently, you might be able to bring some more happiness into your life. Many modern tools and apps are designed just for that. You are able to schedule your time using Google Calendar which can help you to manage every bit of your free time, by scheduling appointments and tasks ahead of time. There are many apps and gadgets designed specifically for that today, to help you organize your time better.
For example, you can plan your evening or weekends with just a few clicks without having to spend much time searching for things to do, right from your Smart Phone.
Tip# 2: Make a priority list
What are the most important things that you need to do? Make a list of things that you need to do right now, and things that have been pending,prioritizing your most important items and putting them at the top of your list. Make this list even before you start your day, so that you have an idea of what your day is going to look like and what the things are that you will be spending your time on. Once you have your priorities set, you can get everything done without having to worry about what you need to do next. If you cannot take care of everything on the list in one day don’t worry, because the things with lesser priority would probably be left for the end of the day or move them to the next day’s “things to do” list. Repeat the same process again for the next day.
Tip # 3: What are your values?
Clay Christensen, Harvard Business School professor and author of How Will You Measure Your Life?, describes his idea of values for the week. According to him, Monday through Friday is for work, Saturday is for family, and Sunday is for God, no exceptions. (Time).
Eric Barker, a writer at Time Magazine writes that “Thinking that if you spend enough time you will get everything done – is an illusion. You will never be “done”.
Creating a balance between your work and personal life requires you to “draw the line” yourself and, according to him, it’s the best way to achieve balance and happiness.
Tip # 4: Plan your weekend
When you plan your week, make sure to plan for the things you want to do on the weekend, up-front. If you have something exciting planned, like a football game with your friends or a dinner with your spouse, you will feel more energetic and motivated to accomplish your tasks on time, so that you can enjoy your weekend. If you have something to look forward to during the weekends, you’ll have an extra incentive to finish your tasks on time, and “it helps to be proactive about scheduling,” says Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro® in Denver and author of SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best.
Tip #5: Cut out all distractions
Carefully evaluate activities that take up your time. Calculate how much of your time you spend at work or at home, that adds value to your life. When you plan your whole week, you should be able to tell how much time you are spending on each item, and what value it has in your family life or career. If you find that you are spending more time on things that do not add value, cut those things out of your schedule. For example, you might be watching a pointless TV show for 2 hours every day, seven days a week; that is 14 pointless hours a week that you could use doing more valuable things.
Make a list of things that you could be doing in your free time that add value to your life, such as visiting your friends or family, fixing your house, car, or organizing your stuff, or doing something fun with the family.
Amy Rees Anderson writes in her article at Forbs.com that, you will find it a lot easier to manage your time and cut out the valueless things from your life if you ask yourself “what matters most in my life?” Spend your time doing things that matter, and cut out the things that don’t.
The topic of balancing life is not a simple one, and its implications can vary widely for each individual, because everyone is different. Balancing life will depend on every individual’s personality, and also their life situation. Here I have tried to give you some valuable points, which may help you to shape your own life and give you a better idea on balancing life.
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Source: Balanced Life Team
