A Clean Perspective On Work-Life Balance

The notion of work-life balance is not just something to keep in mind at the office. Like career obligations, domestic chores can be all-consuming. There never seems to be enough hours in the day.  But don’t become a slave to your housework. These 5 tips will help you take charge of your time and set the scales straight.  

1. Get On Top Of Time

At work, time management is crucial. Every meeting, commitment, and deadline is mapped out on your calendar. You can’t afford to be haphazard with those precious minutes. If you stick to your schedule, you can squeeze a lot into one day.  This same principle applies to housework. Start by prioritizing your cleaning goals. Next, assign an estimated time for each room or task. Once you've outlined your cleaning schedule, all you need to do is stick to it.  Of course there will be times when you need to be flexible. But if you create a general sense of routine, cleaning becomes more habitual and won’t feel like such a chore.   

2. Domestic Productivity

Productivity is the key to business success, and the home is no different. For maximum productivity, all you need to do is focus on the task at hand and not get sidetracked by distractions that could waste your time.  Make sure your goals are realistic and that you don’t overwhelm yourself with superhuman expectations.  Most importantly, always treat yourself to ‘my time’. Once the housework is done, find time to do something fun or relaxing later that day to restore balance. Having time for you is the key to staying productive.   

3. Outsource

Are you a bit of a perfectionist?Do you find yourself saying things like: if you want things done properly, you have to do them yourself.  You can't do it all. If you want to find a healthy work-life balance you’ll need to learn how to delegate.  When you want things done a certain way, it can be hard to surrender control and rely on other people. Have confidence in their ability. This may take a little time initially, but the benefits will be long-term.  To start delegating at home, begin with small, simple tasks, making sure to clearly outline your expectations. Most importantly, make sure you reward them and show your appreciation for their assistance.  Start outsourcing and you’ll see that it will lighten your load. Motivate those around you with a sense of purpose, and your home will shine.   

4. Smarter Tools

In the workplace, we reassess our methods and systems from time to time, to ensure we're working at maximum efficiency. And, when new technology comes along, we upgrade our equipment to stay competitive.  The same principle applies at home. Use products and appliances that optimize the time and energy you spend cleaning the house.  If some chores seem to take longer than they should, take a good look at the tools and equipment that you are using, and ask yourself if there's a better way? Often the answer is yes.  For example, for anything that you need to scrub, try soaking beforehand to reduce the effort you need to spend. If your big, cumbersome vacuum cleaner is slowing down, why not invest in a more compact model - maybe cordless or wall-mounted - that 'sucks up' less of your time?   Maintaining a clean, well-kept home can feel like a full time job all its own. Hopefully these tips will help you organize your efforts and see how to apply the same principles you use to manage your business, to achieve the same sort of success in your home.