There are 168 hours in every week. Most likely, you spend forty of those at work, leaving you with 128 to sleep, eat, rest, and spend however you want. The most successful people make the best use of their time outside of work, which then fuels their work performance. How can you best utilize your time after work?
Let Closing Hours be Closing Hours
John Wooden once said “don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life”. There will always be more you can do at work. Whether that be working to get ahead or trying to catch up, almost anyone can convince themselves they must stay at work after hours. Do not start this habit! You need to stop work as close to the closing hour everyday. This puts you in a position to enjoy your night away from work, and come back the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to be productive. The more late nights you spend at work, the less productive your work days will be.
Plan Ahead of Time
Many people plan how they will spend their working day, yet completely ignore the hours that come after work. This leads to unproductive nights. Make a plan for how you will spend your night, whether it be going to spin class, curling up with a good book, or meeting a networking partner for dinner. Your after work plans are just as important as your during work plans!
Exercise
It’s widely known that following a consistent fitness regime boosts your creativity, confidence, and resilience, both at work and in your personal life. In keeping with planning ahead of time, make a plan to work out at least three times a week. Exercising after work is a great way to release the stress from the office before heading home. After spending eight hours sitting, standing or just generally being stagnant, your body needs to move!
Make Time for Friends
As adults, we often forget the importance of friendship. Spending time with someone you appreciate and have fun with makes you a happier, and better person overall. The positive effects of true friendship are endless. With that being said, do not forget to schedule time for friends! Make a monthly plan and stick to it. If you have a group of friends that you plan to meet with on the first Monday of every month, those meetings happen. If you have to schedule a date every single time, then it becomes harder.
You can use your time after work to enhance your performance during work hours, and your overall health and happiness. In order to maintain a successful work-life balance, the best ways to spend time after wok hours is by exercising and spending time with friends and loved ones. In order to do this, you need to leave work around the same reasonable hour everyday, and make plans ahead of time for your weeknights.