We’re all under pressure to be multitaskers these days. The need to do so much at once undermines our sense of peace: it’s hard to maintain your equilibrium if you constantly feel as if you’re falling behind.

We hear the phrase “work-life balance” quite a lot these days, but it can feel like a bit of a mirage. There will probably never be a perfect balance between work and private life, but rather periods where one has to take priority and other times when the roles are reversed. How much work we have to do to keep on top of things is not, after all, entirely within our control. But we can all learn better habits to keep boundaries in place and our stress levels in check.

Eat your frogs early

There’s a saying that if you get up in the morning and eat a live frog, you can spend the rest of the day safe in the knowledge that whatever else happens it can’t possibly get any worse. Sometimes a “frog” is on your plate and it has to be eaten: your day will include some difficult tasks, and others that are more palatable. If you put off the tough ones, you will spend time feeling bad because there’s a nasty task hanging over you, and eventually you’ll still have to knuckle down and do it. Procrastination affects all of us, but you’ll suffer less if you get the frog out of the way early—so you can focus on other tasks with clarity and feel better knowing that you can check it off the list of things to do that day.

Take care of your mind

Let’s be blunt: too much stress can have a negative impact on your psychological health and, over the long term, it impacts you physically as well.You’ll notice if you come down with the flu, but do you pay attention to when your feelings of stress and anxiety are distorting your reactions and interactions with others? Mind, the UK mental health charity, estimates that one in four people experiences a mental health problem every year. Your mind is your motor, and it’s in your best interest to keep it in good condition.

So, what can you do if your work-life balance has become too difficult? The Mental Health Foundation in the UK gives the following advice:

• Work smart, not long. Again, this is about priorities: eat your frogs, give yourself fixed times to complete tasks, and prioritize the essentials.
• Take breaks during the day, even if they are short.
• Draw a line between work and home. If you have to take work home, make sure you enjoy some totally work-free time.
• Time worrying about work adds to your stress just as much as time spent actually working.
• Friendships, exercise, and leisure activities keep you going. Don’t cut them out: they’re the oil that keeps your gears turning.

The four domains

According to Stewart Friedman, founding director of the Work/Life Integration Project at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, there are four spheres in your life you should consider when planning your priorities: