6 tips to help you strike a balance between work and life

Many youngsters applying for their first jobs do not want their careers to take over their lives completely.

This is the view of Lyndy van den Barselaar, the MD of workforce solutions provider Manpower South Africa.

A recent study found that 37% of millennial respondents worldwide cited the ability to balance work and life as the most important factor when choosing a job. Only 28% said remuneration was their priority.

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Van den Barselaar has the following advice:

• Planning is vital - by employees and employers. "Employers should assist employees in identifying which tasks need to be prioritised. Employees can then plan their days, weeks and even months accordingly";

• Take a break from technology. When you're always looking at your work e-mails, it is hard to separate work from home;

• It's all about flexibility. Employers need to allow staff to work flexible hours, and employees must show their commitment by not taking advantage of the arrangement;

• Schedule time for yourself every single day. It could be a 30-minute walk or coffee with a friend, but do something that will make you feel less like a hamster on a wheel; and

• Ask for help if you're struggling. "Spending hours of overtime in the office ... can result in exhaustion and anxiety, which will have a negative effect on your productivity, your state of mind and your health," Van den Barselaar says.