Five Signs You Have Achieved Work-Life Balance

CEO of Frannexus, award-winning franchise consultant and author of “Profits are Better Than Wages.”

Now that we are almost three years out from the start of the pandemic and seemingly back to “business as usual,” not everyone is feeling like they want the “usual.” If you are tired of living the daily grind, you might be considering a change of pace. Work-life balance has become the new goal for many in the workforce.

What I believe many people realized during stay-at-home orders is that life is too short to be unhappy. If you are looking to live your best life, I believe there are five signs that can indicate you’ve achieved perfect balance. A lack of these signs might mean you need to improve your balancing act.

1. You love what you do.

There is nothing worse than being waited on by someone who hates their job or going to work every day just wishing that you didn’t have to. From my perspective, the perfect work-life balance means you’re doing what you love and loving what you do. Not many people hop out of bed in the morning ready to hit the ground running and achieve great things. When you are just as excited about your working hours as you are about your non-working ones, that is a balance that makes life much more enjoyable overall. If you love what you do, you aren’t really working.

2. You spend quality time with those who are important.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from the pandemic is not only that life is short but also that relationships are precious. Sometimes, I believe we can get so focused on making money for when we can retire that we put our lives on hold and miss the best parts.

But if you have children, you have to remember they aren’t going to be children forever. Similarly, if you have a partner, you don’t have endless time to do the things you want to do. Postponing life indefinitely to attain some goal of wealth is like holding your breath: You can only bear it so long before you burst for air, and in the meantime, it isn’t very fun holding it all in. To me, the key to a successful work-life balance is living every day to the fullest and making time for those you care about while you can still care for them.

3. You can pay your bills without feeling pressure.

I can’t sugarcoat it: Money does make the world go around. If you want to eat and have the essential things in life, work is a must for most of us. Although some people are focused on becoming rich and accumulating so much money they won’t know how to spend it, many people would like to be in a place where writing a check for the bills doesn’t come with sweating and heart palpitations.

I don’t believe that you need to be a millionaire to rock it in this life, but I do think finding a balance with your time and money can help take some of the stress off and enable you to do what you want to do. Although the concept seems simple, getting there is not always so easy. But once you do, I believe life is so much more enjoyable than paddling upstream.

4. You have control over your decisions.

To me, one of the worst feelings is being indebted to someone or not having the freedom to do and say what you want. I believe key signs that you have a good work-life balance are that you have the freedom to be creative, can make choices about what you want to do and when you want to do it and can express yourself the way you want. Balancing life is about making decisions that make you feel happy and fulfilled, but that can be hard to achieve if you aren’t allowed to make any decisions for yourself. It is a great feeling to know you are in control of your own destiny, finances and time; that is when you know you have achieved the perfect balance.

5. You’re accumulating wealth for yourself.

I believe accumulating wealth requires not just paying the bills but having more than you need so you can put some money aside. When you can go to work and do what you love for a living while also building a strong financial base for your future, there is a sense of freedom and accomplishment that you are securing yourself and your family for the long term.

So how can you achieve a better balance?

A perfect work-life balance doesn’t come without hard work and some risk-taking. Perhaps you’re thinking of going down a new path that you haven’t explored, such as business ownership or franchising, which would allow you to be your own boss. Ensure you choose wisely, have realistic expectations and find what makes your life more fulfilled. Leaders are often expected to give 100% to their careers, but for a good balance of work and life, it is important to prioritize what you’re passionate about and ensure you are fulfilling your overall goals for your personal growth, too.

First, set boundaries between your work and personal calendar so you can stay focused. Make sure to carve out time that is allocated for doing what rejuvenates your inner happiness, such as spending time with those you love. Second, be present in the moment and always give your undivided attention. It is hard to feel accomplished if you have a lot of plates in the air. Make a point to finish one thing before starting something new. Lastly, find passion in all that you do. The key to balance is feeling fulfillment in both your personal and work life.

Nothing comes free in life, including the things we want. Having work-life balance is a truly life-changing thing, and time is too short not to, so what are you going to do to find a happier version of yourself?

Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?