Being a boss can be hard. You have a high-flying career, long hours and endless at-home preparation. Not only that, there’s no doubt that you also have a calendar filled to the brim with social events. There’s brunch with the girls, a weekend with the parents and date nights all to squeeze into your busy schedule.

We’ve all heard the expression work hard, play hard, but doing it without mindfulness can leave you feeling worn-out. If you ever get to the point where even leisure activities feel exhausting, it might be time for you to put your life in balance, take back some time for yourself and be a little Selfish, Darling. Here are some tips on how you can give your life a healthy new balance.

Take a step back

If you’re depressed, anxious or have constant a feeling of being overwhelmed, it’s possible that your work is taking over and you need a break. When you notice you’re working late every night or you don’t have time to sit down and read, it’s time to take a step back.

Work smarter

When you are at work, having a mindful approach to your to-do list will help in more ways than you can imagine. Lining up your jobs methodically in a physically-written list can really help with getting things done. Take regular breaks, even if they are only 5 minutes in a quiet place away from your screen, to gather your thoughts and distribute your energy. Listening to gentle background music or white noise while you work can also help you to focus your brain and you’ll procrastinate less.

Do things slowly

Taking your time with each task will not slow you down, but instead ensure that you’re doing things accurately. If you have a lot to get through, focus on the tasks and don’t worry about how much time each one will take. You will spend the same amount of time worrying about doing the work quickly as you would if you took time to do it patiently.

Say “No”

Sometimes when your work diary is full, you have to turn down social events. Although this might feel like you’re working only, saying no to social plans can actually be a good thing. Never underestimate the power of doing nothing at all. Coming home from work and sitting on the sofa to watch trash TV is a way of switching off and spending time with yourself.

Don’t judge yourself

Procrastinating, being unproductive and not performing your best at times is all normal human behaviour and doesn’t make you a lazy person. Instead of beating yourself up about not getting your work done, find ways to manage the workload instead. When you have a mountain to get through, the last thing you want to do is start. If your brain isn’t in the right place one day, give yourself just a small job but make sure it’s still something productive. It’s okay to write the day off and start fresh again tomorrow.

Designate your time off

Making a clear differentiation between work and play is the most effective way of getting things done. This means that you can’t be doing your work while catching up with your latest series, and you can’t bring your laptop to your family lunch. Block out time in your calendar to take off as giving yourself deadlines will also help improve your productivity.

Do restorative exercise

Restorative yoga sessions and reformers Pilates can have a wonderful effect on your healing process while you’re not working. Starting the day off with stretches or meditation will clear your headspace for the day ahead. Taking regular exercise will also physically tire out your body so you can get a good night’s sleep.

Treat yourself

After all, what’s life without a few indulgences? When you have made it through a really hard week of work or pulled off an important presentation at work, you definitely deserve a treat. Book in for an aromatherapy massage or a gel manicure to pamper yourself. It’s important to make sure you do some leisure activities alone so you can clear your head and say thank you to your body and mind for working so hard.