The Work-Life Balance for Sales Professionals: Tips for Staying Healthy and Focused.

Definition of work-life balance

We have all heard of the term work-life balance and its growing importance. Work-life balance means maintaining an equilibrium between your working hours and off time. Employees are now more aware of their needs outside of the work environment. The spare time can be spent with anyone—friends, family, or a significant other—but it is necessary for every individual.

The importance of work-life balance for sales professionals

Sales professionals often get caught up in more field work and, hence, have to extend their working hours to meet their targets. However, the nature of work in a sales job takes a toll on the well-being of a salesperson. Usually, in most companies, it is the salespeople who are valued the most because every company is dependent on them directly or indirectly for their revenue. Every establishment needs to give sales professionals a healthy amount of work-life balance because, according to the statistics provided by HubSpot, 72% of salespeople say they would like more time off.

Impact of Sales Career on Personal Life

Most salespeople must have observed that their professional lives overlap with their personal lives. There have been some instances when sales professionals could not even celebrate major festivals with their families. Sometimes they cannot even have their dinner on time or sleep at the same time. When the basic diet and sleep cycle are affected, it can potentially ruin the health of salespeople and they can suffer from diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and even some mental health issues. A study titled ‘Circadian Rhythm’ was conducted by the journal Psychiatric Research, which concluded that going to sleep before 1 AM every day is vital for good mental health.

Identifying Stressors in Sales Roles

Multiple reasons can lead to a stressful situation in a sales job. The working hours are long, and they have to face the wrath of their managers and clients if the requirements are not met. Some companies maintain a toxic and tiring working environment for their employees, which can cause high-stress levels in the workplace. Sometimes having a healthy conversation with the management can yield fruitful results, but when the situation is out of control, the salespeople often get frustrated with their jobs.

Essential Tips for Achieving Work-Life Balance

Considering all the conditions faced by salespeople, it is high time for them to achieve work-life balance. Here are some tips that you can follow for a healthy work-life balance:

At any workplace, discuss your needs and maintain your boundaries right from the start. Ask the management about the policies and work culture to get a grasp of the company. Mention the preferred working hours and check the expectations of your own family. This can help you avoid unexpected situations later in your role.
Maintain a fixed routine every day. Once you come back from work, list your chores according to their priority and act on them. Try to sleep at the same time every day and wake up early the next day to get more time to get ready for work. Keep calm while you are not in the office; you don't have to be anxious 24/7. Follow the schedule created in your own lists and notes to avoid stressing out.
If possible, don’t bring your work home, and ask your colleagues not to contact you after working hours. When you reach home, give time to your family and yourself. You might want to join a class or a group, go for a walk, go out with family, etc. The work can be completed once you reach the office tomorrow anyway. Stick to the time and be as punctual as possible. However, don’t blame or hate yourself when you are late. It’s okay to be late once in a while. You cannot give 100% all the time.
Delegate tasks when you have too much on your plate. As much as you want to be, you are not a superhuman. When the tasks are divided, no one gets burdened with extra work, and it gets completed within the stipulated time. The workload can be overwhelming sometimes, so it's always better to delegate instead of stressing out. Multiple inputs on any task improve the overall efficiency of the output.
Along with this, it is also important to maintain a balanced diet. Eat food that is a balance of protein, vitamins, and carbohydrates. Stay hydrated and drink at least 2 liters of water every day. Steer clear of foods and places that can get you sick. Even if you are eating outside, make sure that the place follows the best standards of hygiene. Once you go home, try to take some time for meditation as well. Your body will thank you!

Building a good support system with the help of your friends and family can considerably reduce stress levels. Going to therapy sessions occasionally is crucial if you feel that your mental health has been compromised. Ask for stress-relieving techniques and keep a positive mindset.
One of the major things that can cause high stress levels in sales is endless manual labor. Manual work required in sales increases the workload on the sales team. It can also affect productivity, and the process of making a sale becomes more complicated.

Handling a team also becomes difficult when there are a lot of sales executives but only one or two team leaders. There are multiple tools available that salespeople widely use, but what about management? One or two people cannot manage creating and delegating tasks, appointment status, follow-up calls, and changes in sales strategy. For this reason, SalesCaller.io is the best tool for every sales professional.

It is the best way to get your sales cycle automated and build a perfect plan to make a sale. Instead of wasting time on all the manual labor, use SalesCaller.io and use that saved time for building a successful sales team, without compromising your health.

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