Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life. Sounds good, but for how long must you pay your dues? Does ambition come at a price?

In the modern competitive workforce, the millennial generation is pressured into no limit jobs, which mean long work hours for little to no pay. Whether it's an unpaid internship or entry-level position, young adults are experiencing increased volumes of work with little ability to say no.

So how did this happen?

Industries are looking for the perfect 22-22-22. Described in a recent New York Times article, the 22-22-22 is described as a 22-year-old willing to work 22 hour days for $22,000 a year. While the 22-hour work day is an obvious exaggeration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports full-time workers ages 20ÔÇô24 put in just 2.1 fewer hours a week than those 25 and over. In the midst of the scarce job market, young professionals are finding it hard to turn down these opportunities, despite their employer's overly ambitious expectations. As a result, twenty-somethings are now on the constant hunt for coping mechanisms to help them keep calm and carry on the quest to achieve work-life balance.

Work-life balance enables employees to split their time between their work and personal life. The problem is, for most young professionals, juggling the demands of a career and personal life is an ongoing challenge. 

Five tips to achieve work-life balance

Prioritization
Finding there's not enough time in the day to accomplish all of your work? Consider all the projects, deadlines, and social activities that compete for your time and then prioritize by focusing on the ones that are most important to you.  Prioritizing will help you accomplish all of your projects so you can leave your work at the office.

Be proactive
Constantly telling yourself I just need to keep working until it's all done is not giving you any incentive to be efficient. A helpful tip for young professionals for accomplishing tasks quicker is to designate a certain time to respond to emails or voicemails. This will minimize distractions and help you stay focused.  Don't always wait for people to get back to you; if you let people know what you want upfront, it will decrease the number of follow-up emails and phone calls.

Be realistic
Don't take on more than you can chew. If you know you're going to have a busy period ahead with the possibility of unexpected hurdles, don't put everything on your plate at once. Make sure to schedule it all in your calendar so you don't over-commit yourself.

When in doubt, ask for help!
Get by with a little help from your friends and colleagues. Don't be afraid to ask for help from family members, friends, or colleagues. If you're not available for certain times during the week or weekend, let your employer know ahead of time. If you're a high performer, it's likely you'll receive their full support.

Money can buy you happiness
Spending money on experiences rather than possessions can help you become successful in achieving happiness and a work-life balance. Memories of a great time last longer than that trendy, overpriced shirt that sits in the back of your closet. Spending on experiences also helps maintain important relationships with family and friends.

Lauren Della Vedova is the communications and social media representative for Jobpostings. Toronto born and raised, she is an aspiring PR star with the gift of gab, a passion for fashion, and an undying love for her Toronto Maple Leafs. Follow Lauren on Twitter at @laurendvd.