The great author Paulo Coelho once said that the meaning of life is balance. When it comes to work and life, achieving balance between the two seems like just a dream. Throw in the balance of kids and family and we have the impossible dream, one that almost nobody achieves in their lifetime.

There must be a way to do this though. If Sheryl Sandberg and Elon Musk can balance managing two of the biggest companies on earth with their family and not lose their sanity, then there is hope for all of us.

From past experience, here are my 6 tips to finding work/life balance.

This sounds like a truism if ever there was one, but just hold up right there. There have been many studies done linking thirst with any number of issues, ranging from the obvious headaches and hunger, to even causing your emotions to destabilise. If you don’t drink enough water in a given day, you put yourself at risk of working yourself into a panic state. Nobody benefits if you aren’t at your best, so it’s best to stay hydrated while working.

A mind body scan is one way to “check in” with yourself. The brain and body are connected in many, many ways, so its important to build that connection and awareness up by doing exercises such as this.

Good posture over the workday is hard to do. That’s why standing desks exist. After you conduct a mind-body scan, you may start to feel that your body or mind are linked by small details like how you’re sitting or standing. Finding your posture is incredibly important for maintaining a relaxed and calm demeanour while working at a good pace.

The third place is a concept that comes from sociology, whereby communities of people need a place outside of work or home in order to work on themselves. These can be hobbies, but they can also be something far more open such as the beach, a park or the gym. Finding your third place can be the best way for you to re-balance yourself, and keep you prepared for another day.

Work only really feels like work when you take a break and all you have is yourself. Those are the times that work starts to feel lonely. If you can find time to be with people you enjoy while you’re at work, time will go faster, and work will be easier. When you’re working with people you enjoy, you also may find your wellbeing lifted.

Lastly, the one thing that can make work unbearably tiring is office politics. Most of the time it is unavoidable, and grown people begin acting like children. While it may be unavoidable sometimes, so long as you don’t bare any grudges, work may not take its toll as harshly as it would have if you had been involved in the office drama.

While work/life balance may seem like the impossible dream, working towards it can be the best thing you do in your career!