by Carol Gioia

Created on: September 08, 2009

Work takes up a third of each day of your life. If there is a commute to your job location, that can extend the time related to work. If you do not multi-task and make optimum use of your time during the workday, your life can become out-of-balance.

There are things you can do on the job, without cheating your employer of an honest days work, that will mitigate your hectic lifestyle and provide more leisure time after working hours.

Most employers allow two fifteen or twenty minute breaks, one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. Add that into an hour for lunch and you have considerable time to yourself while you are "at work."

Some suggestions to fill the black holes of time during the work day:

* Socialize

During a coffee break, take the opportunity to establish friendships with co-workers. Enjoy a light-hearted gab-fest and a few laughs. Make a date with a friend outside of the workplace to meet somewhere for lunch and spend an hour catching up, or planning your next social get-together. Telephone your mother during your break. Return phone calls, answer e-mails or any other activity that can be accomplished in fifteen or twenty minutes. You will find yourself refreshed and energized when the personal time is up and you have put spare time to good use on activities outside of your job duties.

* Exercise

Often when you have a full-time job and a busy family life to coordinate, there is little time for exercise. Take a brisk walk during your lunch break. Spend forty five minutes at a nearby gym. Get a co-worker to walk with you or become a member of the gym also, and you can combine exercise and socializing. If lunch hour doesn't work, use your two fifteen minute breaks to walk outside in the fresh air. You will find yourself more productive and enthused in your work when you get adequate daily exercise.

* Rest

A ten minute nap can make a new person of you. Instead of snacking when you feel that mid-morning tiredness, close your office door, sit in your car, or seek out an isolated spot and take a brief nap.

* Personal bookkeeping

If you pay your bills and maintain your bank accounts on-line, use your break time to do this. mundane activity, instead of allowing it to eat into your leisure time in the evening. There is also enough time during a break to set doctor and dental appointments for you and family members, call if you have queries billing statements, or bring your checkbook up-to-date.

* Personal grooming

Give yourself a manicure during your personal

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