Balancing your work and social life is tricky at any time of year, but especially in the summer. With concerts, outdoor markets, swimming pools, and parties, summer is one of the busiest times when it comes to having a life outside the office. Learn how to put away the spreadsheets and spend time with friends without sacrificing your work performance with the following tips.
Prioritize What Needs to Be Done
Unfortunately, work does need to come before fun, so always prioritize your most important assignments. If you have a big project coming up, try to work on it as much as possible so you’re not stuck at the office late one night when you had plans with friends.
Plan Your Vacations in Advance
Vacations are a great way to socialize and let loose, but not when they come at the expense of your career. Avoid getting in trouble with your boss by having your vacation approved far in advance. In the weeks leading up to your vacation, do the best you can to stay on top of your work. When it comes time to leave, make sure you leave notes and reminders for your coworkers so they can have an easier time covering for you.
Set Clear Boundaries
Sometimes, even if your work isn’t finished for the day, you just need to walk away. To prevent yourself from working into the night and missing out on social engagements, set a clear time when you need to step away from your desk. Even if you’re in the middle of something, follow this deadline to a T and go enjoy the summer nights with your pals.
Don’t Call off for Fun
Does the weather look fabulous this Friday? Here’s an idea — don’t call off on a whim just because you want to go to the pool for the day. While it would be relaxing and fun, it’s not fair to your coworkers. They were expecting you to come in, and by ditching work, you’re letting them down. Instead, why not take a half-day? That way, you can get your work done in the morning and still have time to catch some sun poolside.
Summer is all about balancing your priorities. Both work and your social life should be at the top of the list, so finding ways to juggle these is imperative to make sure your summer is enjoyable.
Works Cited
“8 Tips for a Better Work-Life Balance.” Coffee With Summer, 30 Jan 2017, https://www.coffeewithsummer.com/lifestyle/tips-work-life-balance/. Accessed 11 July 2019.
