• Staying healthy (23)

• Cosmetic surgery: What to know beforehand
• Vaccines for adults: Which do you need?
• Cancer prevention: 7 tips to reduce your risk
• see all in Staying healthy

• Dental care (7)

• Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics
• Oral health: A window to your overall health
• Calcium and calcium supplements: Achieving the right balance
• see all in Dental care

• Skin care (17)

• Sunless tanning: A safe alternative to sunbathing
• Best sunscreen: Understand sunscreen options
• Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin
• see all in Skin care

• Nail care (1)

• Fingernails: Do's and don'ts for healthy nails

• Eye care (9)

• Eye injury: Tips to protect vision
• Contact lenses: What to know before you buy
• LASIK eye surgery
• see all in Eye care

• Sleep (7)

• Sleep aids: Understand over-the-counter options
• Napping: Do's and don'ts for healthy adults
• Sleep tips: 7 steps to better sleep
• see all in Sleep

• Mental health (11)

• Empty nest syndrome: Tips for coping
• Self-esteem: 4 steps to feel better about yourself
• Self-esteem check: Too low, too high or just right?
• see all in Mental health

• Healthy relationships (9)

• Domestic violence against men: Know the signs
• Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns, seek help
• Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness
• see all in Healthy relationships

• Healthy at work (12)

• Travel workout: Fitness tips for business travelers
• Workplace exercises: How to burn calories at work
• Desk stretches: How-to video collection
• see all in Healthy at work

• RSS Feeds

Work-life balance: Tips to reclaim control

When your work life and personal life are out of balance, your stress level is likely to soar. Use these practical strategies to restore harmony.

By Mayo Clinic staff

There was a time when the boundaries between work and home were fairly clear. Today, however, work is likely to invade your personal life — and maintaining work-life balance is no simple task. This might be especially true if you're concerned about losing your job due to restructuring, layoffs or other factors.

Still, work-life balance isn't out of reach.

Start by evaluating your relationship to work. Then apply specific strategies to help you strike a healthier balance.

Married to your work? Consider the cost

It can be tempting to rack up hours at work, especially if you're trying to earn a promotion or manage an ever-increasing workload — or simply keep your head above water. Sometimes overtime might even be required. If you're spending most of your time working, though, your home life will take a hit.

Consider the consequences of poor work-life balance:

• Fatigue. When you're tired, your ability to work productively and think clearly might suffer — which could take a toll on your professional reputation or lead to dangerous or costly mistakes.
• Lost time with friends and loved ones. If you're working too much, you might miss important family events or milestones. This can leave you feeling left out and might harm relationships with your loved ones. It's also difficult to nurture friendships if you're always working.
• Increased expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you might be given more responsibility — which could lead to additional concerns and challenges.

Next page
(1 of 2)

• See Also

Hand Scheduled
Section Focus
• Shift work: Improving daytime sleep
• Slide show: Office stretches
• Video: Neck stretches for the workplace
• Video: Forearm stretches for the workplace
• Video: Upper body stretches for the workplace
• Video: Seated stretches for the workplace
• Video: Standing stretches for the workplace
• Travel workout: Fitness tips for business travelers
• Workplace exercises: How to burn calories at work
• Desk stretches: How-to video collection
• Back pain at work: Preventing pain and injury
• Job satisfaction: How to make work more rewarding
• Job burnout: How to spot it and take action
• Office ergonomics: Your how-to guide
• Stress relief: When and how to say no
• Jet lag disorder
• Clouded judgment, poor choices result from stress
• Strong emotions can lead to poor decisions
• Stress can change your personality
• Do you have 'sitting disease'?
• Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting?
• Leg pain after prolonged standing or sitting: A concern?
• Common causes of work stress
• Stress assessment: Rate your stress level
• Don't forget the 'life' in work-life balance
• Success needn't mean neglecting your needs
• Low back pain: Everyday solutions
• Test anxiety: Can it be treated?
• Protect yourself from workplace stress
• With a little help from our friends
• When is a promotion a bad move?

Related Links

Mayo Clinic Store

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.

• Try Mayo Clinic Health Letter FREE!
• The best arthritis treatments for a more comfortable and active life
• Mayo Clinic Five Steps to Controlling High Blood Pressure
• The Mayo Clinic Diet — Eat well. Enjoy life. Lose weight.

Register for our email service and receive a FREE Special Report!