The phrase “work hard, play hard” has become very popular in recent years. Different people have their own personal interpretation of the saying. For some, it means long days at the office and all-night parties. While that formula might work for them, we believe it’s all about giving your best to make a living, and then rewarding yourself with new and fun adventures.

Whichever way you interpret the expression, it’s meant to inspire work-life balance. Here are specific ways you can “work hard and play hard.”

Prioritize. Create a list of your priorities for the day, week, and month. Knowing your priorities, and seeing them in writing, allows you to stay on track of what’s most important.

Stay focused. Between colleague interactions and social media, it’s easier than ever to get distracted at work. Staying focused and avoiding distractions during the workday will allow you to use your work hours more wisely.

Stick to a set schedule. Once you identify and minimize your time-wasting habits, create a more productive schedule and stick to it.

Reward yourself! Make a list of activities that interest you. Are massages your guilty pleasure? Maybe you always wanted to learn to play the guitar, or visit every pro-baseball field. Or, maybe you simply want to sit in the coziest corner of your home and get lost in the pages of a bestseller. Whatever you choose to do, rewarding yourself for your achievements will leave you feeling refreshed and motivated to work harder to support your intention to live a better life.

People work hard to gain the financial stability required to be able to play hard. And, while work-life balance is the ultimate goal, it’s immensely important to love the work you do, and to enjoy your work-days as much as your play-days.

At Boris Benic and Associates, our passion for helping individuals and businesses reach their financial goals has turned us into a leading CPA and business consulting firm on Long Island. And, while we are committed to meeting our clients’ needs, we don’t often pass up an opportunity to play golf.