There are a variety of ways in which a more balanced schedule can improve your personal and professional life. And, if you’re currently only half aware of what you’re doing on a daily basis, you’re likely to feel as though you’re not truly present for any of it.

When it comes to achieving a proper work-life balance, you need to mix a certain amount of organization with a touch of adaptability, leading with the understanding that life never goes exactly according to plan.

With this in mind, here are some helpful methods for enforcing a more productive and peaceful way of life for yourself, one that allows for more concentrated time with your job, your family and friends, and your own personal health that all combines into a healthy, happy result.

Discover Your Most Important Goals and Priorities

Starting fresh means considering everything you have on your plate right now and determining how best to reorganize and manage your time to accomplish these tasks. In order to make worthwhile changes that have a lasting effect on your schedule, it’s time to consider what your most important goals are, and to prioritize them above anything else. Whether it’s maximizing your time with family and friends on the weekends or minimizing your daily workload by delegating menial tasks to others, setting boundaries and sticking to them is key.

Choose a Career You Love

Going to work can feel like nothing but a chore to many, which is why it’s so vital to find a job that suits you and motivates you day after day. That way, your days don’t start with a sense of dread and anxiety, but instead with a sense of excitement and determination.

Don’t Forget to Make Time for Yourself

You can only do so much in a day if you’re suffering from chronic physical or mental ailments that are holding you back. When it comes to enforcing a better work-life balance, the biggest changes have to mean something for your own well-being.

If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed with work, schedule more time with friends to unwind. Take small breaks throughout the day to relax and breathe. Pinpoint areas of time in your day where you can forego scrolling through social media feeds to instead take a pleasant walk outdoors. Whatever the situation, prioritizing your own needs is crucial to a successful lifestyle change.

Enforcing a positive work-life balance can be achieved with a little dedicated planning, and reminding yourself that life can always throw curveballs. Simply take it a day at a time, and you can experience harmony in all aspects of your life.