Balancing the needs of your demanding finance career with the needs of your family can be a challenge. Committing to the requirements of the job is essential but most people agree that family comes first. How can you create the right work/life balance in your job? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Maintain a schedule. Even if deadlines are self-imposed they do help to keep us on track. Schedule not only your daily work tasks but also the things you need to take care of at home to ensure nothing is skipped. For example, many people express the desire to exercise more but claim they don’t have the time. Put a morning walk on your schedule and you are more likely to do it. Make sure that no aspect of your finance career is ignored but that your family and friends get to see you as well.
2. Just say no. Overcommitting can be the real killer of work/life balance. There will never be a shortage of available activities both at work and at home. Consider all of the details before you make a commitment. What is the benefit of the activity? If you say yes to everything you’ll quickly become overwhelmed and both aspects of your life will begin to suffer.
3. Make time for volunteering. While overcommitting can be overwhelming it is still good to make certain commitments and stick to them. Multiple studies have shown that people who volunteer are happier than those who don’t. Spend just an hour a week working with an organization in your community. It can provide much needed social interaction in your busy life as well.
4. All work and no play. Make sure you take some time out of your weekly or daily schedule just for yourself. Relaxing helps recharge your batteries. Take a hike, read a favorite book, spend time with your family without a scheduled activity. Put aside your finance career just for a weekend afternoon so you can pay attention to the things that rejuvenate your spirit.
5. Disconnect. A challenge was issued on the internet a while back for friends and families out in public to disconnect from their phones and reconnect with each other. Everyone at the table was encouraged to silence their phones and stack them in the center of the table. The first person who gives into the temptation to pick up their phone pays the tab. Time spent out with friends and family should be focused on the conversation at the table rather than Facebook.

Do you want to know more about the right work/life balance for your finance career? Contact one of VincentBenjamin’s recruiters specializing in the financial industry. We have finance recruiters located in Phoenix, Orange County, Los Angeles and Denver.