Work-life balance: The 5 elements of a winning week

Balancing your work and personal life is no easy task. Most people end up burnt out and working all the time with no life, or they end up forgetting about work completely. To achieve the perfect balance, you’ll need the help of the five elements described below. With them, you’re bound to be happier, more energized, and highly motivated to succeed. After all, the key to good organization and balance is being ready for anything and keeping yourself rested for all the good things to come.

1. Take a breather

Not everyone can be perfect all the time and it’s important not to forget that. After all, you’re only human. It’s okay to feel down, unmotivated, and sluggish from time to time. Pushing through will only make those feelings come back stronger. Make yourself a cup of tea, grab a good book, and relax. It will do wonders for restoring your energy and keeping you on the right track.

Being kind to yourself is the key to successfully managing your work and personal life. This is because you can achieve virtually nothing for other people if you haven’t done anything for yourself first. Spend a bit of time in your own company, and the rest will come easily.

2. Be optimistic

Even though this may sound like stupid advice, it actually helps. Balancing a busy schedule is impossible if you don’t have a positive attitude. Thinking how you won’t be able to do it is just setting yourself up to fail. That’s why you should always encourage yourself and be optimistic about your goals. The finish line will seem much closer, you’ll feel more motivated and happier, and you’ll be at the top of your game.

This goes for both your work and personal life, as the little goals you can achieve daily are numerous. A good idea is to track your progress by writing down what you have to do. This way, you’ll be able to cross out every completed item and feel proud of yourself for successfully balancing your life.

3. Prep your meals

Prepping meals will save you some time and make sure you’re never hungry or eating unhealthy. Shopping for groceries once a week and preparing your meals in advance means you won’t have to spend time on cooking or money on takeout. You can always bring your lunch to work and keep being healthy without the hassle.

What’s more, prepping meals allows you more free time when work’s done, leaving you more relaxed and less stressed about what else needs to be done. Every week will be a winner when you realize you’ve been treating your body right and excelling at your work obligations.

4. Pencil in exercise

If you want your week to be an absolute success, you can’t forget about exercise. Pencil it in so it’s easier to stick to the routine, and work out a couple of times a week for optimal results. This will help you release tension and get rid of stress while also keeping you healthy and in shape. Additionally, it will also keep burnout at bay.

Don’t forget to come up with the ideal post-workout smoothie, though. So as to let your muscles rest properly, you’ll have to fuel them with all the right things. A mixture of veggies, nuts, and a spoonful of whey protein concentrate for flavour is bound to do the trick. The smoothie will be the last thing you need to kick stress and achieve greatness, so don’t skip it.

5. Leave time for your friends

Even though you’re a busy and ambitious person, it’s important not to forget about those who are with you every step of the way. Spending a little quality time with friends will go a long way in keeping you motivated, de-stressed, and happy. What’s more, it’s bound to maintain the bonds between you.

Go for a cup of coffee to catch up after work, or leave Saturday’s open for brunch. Even just talking on the phone and hearing their voice can be enough to brighten your day and help you stay focused. As far as work relationships are concerned, you can always spend your lunch break with your favourite colleague and have a little breather before you jump back in.

6. Take a nap

There’s nothing more rewarding than napping after a long workday. After all, you just spent the whole day running errands, keeping up with your schedule, and nailing your work tasks. On top of that, you probably got up extremely early to look your best and maybe even attend an early meeting. All of this makes for a very active work day which means your body is probably aching for some rest. No matter how healthy you are, everyone has a breaking point. It’s important to rest before you reach yours.

Taking a nap helps your body process all the stress and activities of the day. Sleeping is when we heal and gather strength for the rest of the day. A nap can also be beneficial for your mind as it will allow it to filter information and absorb the most important parts of your day. You won’t overwork it, and you’ll be able to keep working at a steady pace. Even a half hour nap can bring you closer to your winning week, so take advantage of any gap in the schedule that you might have.

Conclusion

As you can see, having a killer week isn’t an impossible task. Sure, it can be hard and you’ll probably want to give up at some point, but don’t let your hard work go to waste. At the end of the week, you’ll get to look back on your progress and marvel at how far you’ve come. The sense of accomplishment and the pride you’ll feel will more than compensate for every hard step of the way. We’re confident these elements will help you reach your goals and make you the best person you can be.

Don’t Do It Alone: Tips To Get Healthier As A Couple

Living healthier is something we all decide to do at some point, but never actually get to it. It’s one of those decisions that start tomorrow, on Monday, or next year. More often than not, the cause for not being able to change your lifestyle is not having enough support. While you’re dieting or going to the gym, everyone else around you is enjoying their food and going out to have fun. That’s why it’s a good idea to get healthier with your partner. It’ll be much easier to be the best version of yourself when you’ve got someone in your corner doing the same thing.

1. Lean on each other

Since this is new to both of you, it’s important to be each other’s support. If you notice your significant other is doing well, tell them. This will help keep motivation levels up and will make sticking to the new regime much easier. A compliment like “you’re looking better and better” will surely brighten their day and strengthen their resolve for success.

Also, don’t be afraid to express your concerns and fears about your own progress. Openly ask for support and acknowledgement if you feel like you need it. Just because your partner isn’t verbal, it doesn’t mean they haven’t noticed how you’ve changed, but sometimes it just feels good to hear it. This will strengthen your emotional bond too, and make living healthier a much more positive experience. After all, the point of doing this together is to always have someone to lean on.

2. Get creative with your food choices

More often than not, we’re used to delicious foods which are also high in fats and sugars and just end up clogging our arteries. This is why you should choose healthier alternatives. Of course, this is much easier said than done, especially since most healthy food tastes drab and bland. The key quality of a good meal is its nutritional value and taste.

That being said, there are a ton of healthier munchies that still taste very nice. All you have to do is get a little creative. Keep an open mind about trying something new, and don’t knock things down just because they have the word “kale” in them. You can get tons of inspiration online or from cooking books. If you look in the right places, you’ll realize that this kind of diet doesn’t even have to be expensive.

3. Consistency is key

You won’t achieve anything if you go hard then give up all too soon. Starting a completely new lifestyle is hard and it will take some time for the change to become permanent. In this transitional period, you have to be patient and consistent. A few small steps are better than one big one because they’re more permanent and will help you transition more easily.

Don’t get mad at your partner if they’re not doing as well as you are with your new lifestyle. Instead, realize that everyone goes at their own pace and support them. If the situation is vice versa, and you’re the one having trouble, be open about it. Your partner will surely understand and help you through it. Consistency will help you here as well, because no matter how fast or slow you get used to the change, you’ll surely get there eventually.

4. Replace Netflix with exercise

Cuddling with your partner and watching your favourite show is fun, but it’s not entirely healthy. A much better couple’s activity would be exercising at home. Use the time you have together to do something productive instead of just lounging around the whole afternoon. A couple’s workout at home can bond you just as much as cuddling, but will also keep you fit in the process.

It doesn’t even have to be hard to organize a good workout routine for the both of you. All you need is some good music, a positive attitude, and a few quality props from trustworthy brands like Cyber Fit. Equipped with these, you’ll be more than ready to nail your exercise routine every time. Exercising at home is much more time manageable and convenient, and saves you money on a gym membership but gives you the same results.

5. Move your dates outside

Instead of having dates in restaurants or cafes or the cinema, you should move them outside. If the weather’s nice, have a picnic, for example. Even just walking around the city and enjoying each other’s company can do wonders for both of you. Getting some vitamin D and fresh air can reduce stress levels and will make your skin more radiant. Let’s not forget your body will enjoy the light exercise, and you’ll love spending time with your love outside the house.

Once you’ve tried all the conventional outside dates, you can get more adventurous and explore the city together. Who knows what kind of fun things are waiting around the corner? All you have to do is take your partner by the hand and start walking. You’ll be surprised how many new things a familiar place has to offer once you’ve really started paying attention to it. Additionally, going outside and taking an active interest in each other and your environment will also help you get to know your parent better.

Conclusion

As you can see, doing important things like these is much easier when you’ve got good company. Living healthier as a couple will give you a common goal, bring you closer, and help you bring out the best in each other. This will contribute to a loving and long-lasting relationship that won’t lose its flame. We’re confident you and your loved one will succeed in making this brave change and continue to live a healthier life.