When you have a demanding job and are determined to become successful, it can be hard to leave work and enjoy your time at home. But the secret behind being successful is being able to find a balance between professional and personal life. Yes, it is great to give your best at work but it is also important to have a life outside of it to refresh and rejuvenate.

Let us acquaint ourselves with the after-work habits of highly successful people and see how you can change your life when you are off the work clock.

1. Compartmentalise Work

If you have a challenging job, in the normal scenario, you will land up bringing work to home. And this is where successful people are different. They consciously allocate a fixed amount of time to each area of their life and then they stick to that schedule. They are careful enough to split work into shifts instead of trying to do all of it at once.

2. Get Home in Time

Highly successful people know what they value in life. Yes, work is invaluable but they also respect the priceless gifts of life which includes having a meal with the family, doing things together, unwinding with children etc. They carve out a part of the evening to be with their family. When they return back to work, they have a fresh mind which boosts their productivity.

3. Explore the Creative Side

Successful people leave behind their formal clothes, desk, and computer when they leave office. They explore their creative side! They draw, paint, spread out on the table or floor and spend time sketching and shading. They read their favourite novel or practice an instrument; do whatever strikes their fancy! Taking time to explore your creative side makes you feel more in touch with your real self as opposed to your work self.

4. Spend Time Outdoors

Fresh air and exercise help you feel great after a day cooped up in the office. They get your blood flowing and keep you from crashing on the couch as soon as you get in. The increased blood flow and heart rate also inspire you to work on other things once you get home, whether it is handling daily chores, creative endeavors or just spending fun time with family. Spending time outside would also mean playing a physically demanding sport that challenges other parts of you. Some physically demanding sports are partner or team sports, like tennis or football, they get you socialising and working together as you play.

5. Enjoy Cooking Dinner

Cooking dinner can seem like a hassle when you have to do it after putting in a long day at work. You have to plan the meal, cook it, serve it, and clean up afterwards. But instead of thinking of this as a hassle, successful people enjoy the experience as it helps them unwind! They get other family members to help so it gets done more efficiently and the family ends up spending time together.

6. Meditate

Successful people have an urge to meditate as it calms their mind. They take time out in the morning before work and in the evening before going to bed to just sit by themselves and let the day wash over them. They do not dwell on what did or did not happen but rather try to be in the moment and just relax. Jeff Weiner, Chief Executive Officer of LinkedIn shared that a daily meditation routine brings great benefits to his mental well-being.

7. Prioritise Sleep

Successful people sleep to the top which means they take proper rest at night which helps them get going the next morning. They keep away from gadgets and devices and stick to their sleeping routine. Getting a good night’s sleep ensures that they can focus properly the next day without any fatigue. Good sleep also reduces stress and enhances creativity and productivity.

Successful people do not look different but you definitely feel the difference when you are around them. This is because they do different things that help them increase their efficiency. As a result they are able to do important things differently during their day. Imbibe these virtues of successful people and embark on your journey to true success!