The term ‘work-life balance’ was used for the first time in the UK sometime in the late 70s and is a concept which includes the appropriate prioritization between lifestyle (family, health, leisure, pleasure) and work (ambition and career). The phrase was used in the United States in 1986 for the first time.

But according to a survey conducted back in 2010, about 16% of workers in the US indicated their difficulty in balancing their family life and work. This was very predominant among employees aged 30 – 44 (which is about 19%).

Here are six components of work-life balance for professionals:

1. Time Management – This has to do with prioritizing the most important things to do as well as making the most of your resources and day. You have to learn how to discern what is urgent or important. Finding out what you are good at, making use of the appropriate tools that will help you to perform those tasks, and achieving optimal results in the shortest time possible is critical.
2. Self-Management – It is quite challenging to manage ones’ self, and this includes getting adequate exercise, sleep, and nutrition. Self-management has to do with recognizing how important it is in making use of the space in your life. Self-management, if done effectively, enhances your work-life balance.
3. Stress management – The increase in the complexity of societies have profound effects on the individual. This is an inevitable reality as individuals undergo stress because of noise and distractions. This, in turn, makes it necessary for us to become proficient at maintaining quietude or peacefulness and figuring how to work yourself out of situations that are filled with pressure. Multi-tasking also increases stress as against focusing on performing one task at a time.
4. Technology management – Technology is meant to serve you and not to abuse you in any way. This means that you need to manage and rule the emerging technology which is being introduced by vendors every day to enhance your lifestyle.
5. Change management – Change is constant, thanks to this fast-paced world. To be on par with the trends, you need to be able to adopt new methods as well as re-adapting strategies which will help in maintaining a successful career as well as a happy home life. Effectual change management includes making concerted and periodic efforts to make sure that the volume of work at home or work does not defeat or overwhelm you.
6. Leisure management – This is perhaps the most disregarded work-life balance discipline or component. Leisure management has to do with focusing on the importance of relaxation. This cannot be short-changed therefore taking time off is a fundamental constituent of the human experience. However, dreariness or what is known as monotony may arise as a result of excessive leisure activity, no matter how enjoyable it is. Therefore, leisure management necessitates varying or changing one’s activities.