Strike a Balance

Have you ever been in a perceived trap at work where you are consistently taking work home? No matter how early you come in, or how many lunches you skip, you can’t seem to finish all you need to do by COB (close of business). I can certainly identify with this rut and since coming out of it, I have discovered a method to avoid the “taking work home” madness.

True indeed, times may arise where it is necessary to work a few hours in the evening or over the weekend, but the perpetual act of taking work home can actually be an impediment to productivity.


A trick that works for me is making a priority list the day before on what needs to be accomplished the following day. Prioritize these items and target the tasks that are time sensitive first. It doesn’t do you any good if you work on those projects you enjoy doing, while neglecting those you dislike. Completing those tasks that must be completed by COB can help to eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress. In addition, you may get some kudos by completing a critical project before the due date.



If you are finding that almost every project on your plate has a challenging deadline, your workload may be a little too heavy. It is not uncommon for upper management to grossly underestimate the resources required to perform a task. While no one likes to admit that they’re not qualified or up to the challenge, develop a proposal for bringing in temporary assistance to perform any tedious administrative tasks that are consuming too much of your time. After you’re caught up, hopefully your workload will become more manageable. If not, your position and/or qualifications may need to be reassessed.



Life is much too short to work all day and night. Even if you are totally thrilled with your occupation, it always helps to step away and return reenergized. Often times when you take a break, you become more productive than you were when you were completely absorbed. Strike a balance between your career and personal life, smell the roses and stay connected!