4 Ways to Pursue Work Life Balance
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is so important, no matter what industry you are in. It can be very easy to fall into a toxic relationship with your job, particularly during busy periods.
However, there are numerous steps you can take to ensure you are maintaining a balance in your life, where you are able to work hard but also relax and take time out.
Set your boundaries
Work can often consume our thoughts, leading to a cloudy mindset and the inability to switch off.
Particularly in recent times, many of us have begun to work partially from home, which in many ways is a convenient and positive practice but it can effect our boundaries.
Whilst working from home, the lines between work and life can sometimes become blurred. It can be very easy to skip your lunch, begin work early and forget to finish up on time. This is because you are not in the strict routine that comes with office working.
If the above sounds familiar to you, it is time to start setting strict boundaries and sticking to them.
Tips:
- Set alarms for your breaks
- Make a realistic to-do list for the day
- Have a separate work computer and phone so you can switch it off
- Let your work colleagues know your boundaries
- Try to avoid thinking about work after hours
Make time for yourself, your hobbies and your family
When we are in a very busy job, we often consume ourselves with career related activities. It is extremely important to have a life outside work, filled with fun activities and family times.
Yes, it is good to participate in career related activities every now and then, but it is important to switch off and tap into our hobbies too.
Making time for your personal life is actually advantageous to your career. If you have a healthy work-life balance, you are more likely to excel in your work, with a fresh and motivated mindset.
Use your holiday time
Now, this is an obvious one but you would be surprised at how many people struggle to take their holiday time, due to work commitments.
More often than not, when approaching the end of the year, we realise that we have a build-up of unused annual leave days. Employees are often reluctant to take long periods of time off work, incase they would fall behind or miss out.
Holidays are there for a reason and they massively benefit both your personal life and your career. Taking time away from work is important, allowing you to relax and recharge.
Prepare the night before!
When it comes to organising your outfits and lunch for work, prepare ahead the night before. There is no better feeling than waking up to your alarm, knowing that you just have to dress yourself, no thinking required.
The perfect time to prepare your outfits and lunch for work is just as you arrive back home in the evening. Before you settle down for the night, sort everything you need out for the next day. This means you can then completely switch off.
Not only does this forward-thinking save time in the morning, it also encourages you to make better decisions when it comes to choosing an outfit and food.