Corporate life asks ever more of us, whether it’s working through lunch or staying late, so how can we find time to call our own. Longer hours and e-mail make it hard to switch off and balancing the demands on time is a challenge, particularly if you have family commitments. But having a meaningful job doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your personal life. This article provides several practical remedies and recommendations to achieve a better work/life balance. For example: If starting an hour later or working from home one day a week would improve things, ask for it. Sell idea to your employer as a business case. Everyone has the urge to please, especially younger workers. But you get more respect by saying ‘no’ than saying ‘yes’. Measure your performance by what you achieve – don’t stay late for the sake of it. Take time out. Some people go to the gym at lunchtime, others go out for a walk. A break will make you more productive and prevent that 3 o’clock output slump.
The Times