Balancing work and life

It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but maintaining balance throughout your personal and professional life is important for leading a healthy lifestyle. Taking these steps will help you stay on top of your game.

Identify Priorities - Know what task is more important and what you should take on first.

Communicate - Establish clear communication between yourself and others, whether it's your boss at work or your family members at home.

Telecommute - If possible, balance work and home life by working at home. This allows you to save money and time by not commuting; time which then can be invested back into your personal life.

Set a Time Frame - It's a marathon, not a sprint. To make sure you're getting things done right, set a manageable time to get something done instead of rushing it.

Have a Support System - Identify people who can help you out at times. Whether it be friends, neighbors or colleagues, know who you can count on.

Stay focused even though work and life can easily overlap. Concentrating, prioritizing and staying balanced are other keys to a healthy lifestyle. Follow these steps and more as a part of The Fittest Loser Challenge sponsored by Assurance!

• Jill Micklow is the Wellness Consultant on the Employee Benefits team at Assurance, a proud sponsor of the Daily Herald Fittest Loser Challenge. She brings Assurance's passion for minimizing risk and maximizing health to clients nationwide, helping them identify specific health and wellness goals and tailoring programs that help them achieve success. Through education, motivation and engagement, Assurance clients and their employees see an improvement in overall health, morale and productivity thanks to Jill's efforts.