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People find all kinds of reasons why they don’t have time for themselves: they’re too busy, too tired, or they believe that too many people depend on them. 

But a life dominated by a professional sphere or any other sphere without self-care and fun is in desperate need for a revamp.Start making time and energy for your social, physical, and spiritual spheres. 

Here are my top ten tips to help you enjoy life more and find a better balance.

1. Get Up Early – Even on Weekends

   There’s a meme showing a man laughing because he gets up at 4 am to go to the gym while his friends say they don’t have time. While 4 am might be extreme, going to bed early and rising early to work on your physical or spiritual spheres is worth it. A good sleep routine means you’re less tired during the day, making you more productive too.

2. Make Pledges to Yourself

   Have you seen the app, Stickk? It lets you make promises to yourself, and if you don’t stick to them, it sends money to an organisation you detest. This extra motivation and accountability can help you stick to early mornings, workout plans, or any other goals.3. Make To-Do Lists

   Making a list helps you know exactly what you need to do and when, allowing you to spend time on yourself without stress or guilt. Crossing off tasks is incredibly satisfying. Try using Sticky Notes to create to-do lists while saving paper.

4. Use Professional Time Effectively

   Some people enjoy gossiping in the staff room, but what starts as a five-minute chat can turn into an hour-long unproductive session. Focus on using your free time at work to get tasks done, so you don’t have to bring work home.

5. Streamline Your Systems

   Regular tasks like grading essays or planning lessons can be made easier with templates. Consider buying resources, as saving time is often more valuable than saving money. Share resources with other teachers to avoid duplicating effort.

6. Ask for Help

   Collaborate with other teachers in your school or nearby schools. Sharing resources and responsibilities can save time and energy. This also applies to family commitments—coordinate with other parents to share the load.7. Live a Healthy Life

   Active educators who eat well and get enough sleep are less likely to get ill and more likely to be productive at work. Taking care of yourself creates a positive cycle of health and fun.

8. Limit Screen Time

   Use apps like ScreenZen to limit phone usage. Spending hours on social media or games prevents you from doing activities that make you feel healthy and happy and can lead to depression and anxiety.

9. Follow the 20-Second Rule

   Make positive actions easier by 20 seconds and negative actions harder by 20 seconds. For example, lay out your workout gear the night before and remove the batteries from your TV remote. This small change can significantly influence your habits.

10. Be Reflective and Adapt

   Finding time and energy for yourself is an ongoing process. Don’t strive for perfection—sometimes doing a satisfactory job is good enough. Learn to say no to unimportant tasks and focus on what truly matters.I hope you find these tips helpful in achieving a stronger work-life balance. Here’s to doing something you love this week!

Have a great one,

Thes

Future articles in this series:

• Dealing with the emotions of living abroad.
• Making a good first impression at school.
• How to find the perfect international teaching job.