Getty: Mark Edward Atkinson, Tracey Lee

Realize that having a successful work life means investing time in a happy personal life, too. (Photo: Mark Edward Atkinson, Tracey Lee/Getty Images)

You will most likely never find the perfect balance between the hours you log at the office and your personal life, but that can be a wonderful thing, if handled properly, reports psychologist Christine L. Carter, Ph.D. In her latest work for Psychology Today, she makes a few great suggestions for embracing and enjoying the busy lives we all face and creating positive energy, instead of negative stress, by focusing your energies on important and valuable activities.

This weekend, use a little of her advice to try a new approach to a better life:

  1. Integrate, don’t separate: Satisfaction at home is intricately linked to satisfaction at work and vice versa. Let go of the idea that you need to compartmentalize these two, all important, parts of your life. Realize that having a successful work life means investing time in a happy personal life, too.
  2. Find your purpose and focus. Decide where you make your most important contribution to the world and prioritize that work — both in your career and personal life — so that it is first.
  3. Resist temptation. Computers, smartphones and tablets are a key to work and life, but use them only as tools to make you more efficient, effective, connected and creative. If you use them obsessively, they simply become a drain and a distraction.
  4. Go deep. Sharing the advice of success guru Cal Newport, Carter suggests learning the principles of his new book, Deep Work. He teaches you to master the skills to “focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task … to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship.”
  5. Be courageous. When everyone around you is multitasking and scrambling, be brave enough to take time out to spur your creativity. Be playful, take a midday stroll, catch a catnap, listen to music. Disconnect from stress long enough to let your creative juices flow.
  6. Stay connected. Never lose site of the importance of relationships. Always make time for friends (new and old) and family. Be supportive, nurture your relationships and don’t be afraid to share your smile.

About Fierce Fridays — Tips for Weekend Well-Being

We each cherish those precious days off at the end of the week, but increasingly those of us who are charter members of the sisterhood of the stressed and overworked are losing our Saturday and Sunday leisure time to weekend work and domestic duties.

To make sure that you do something every weekend that’s just for you, we’ll be sharing a little advice to make those 48 hours a great time to recharge your batteries, bring a little good news and fun into your life, or discover a quick and easy way to improve your health.