How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance
Do you struggle with work-life balance? Yeah. We all kinda do here. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in work and obligations and feel like our personal lives can take a back seat. But that’s not healthy, friends. Not all the time, anyway. It’s so important to take care of yourself and your mental and physical health.
What exactly is work-life balance?
It’s exactly what it sounds like! Work-life balance means creating a balance between your job and your personal life. It means prioritizing them equally.
How do I do that?
There are lots of ways you can improve your work-life balance and prioritize your home life and work equally. Here are some ideas:
Take Breaks
If you’re allowed schedule breaks, take them. If you get a lunch break, take it. Outside the office. No eating at your desk while you work. Studies show that even just a 30-second break now and then can improve productivity. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Let your brain rest when you need it.
Unplug at Home
If at all possible, don’t take your work home with you. Okay, easier said than done, right? You might not be able to stop your brain from wandering to work while you’re at home, but you can stop work from coming to you. Log out of your work email on your phone (better yet, never log in on your phone). Don’t physically bring home files or to-do lists. They’ll be waiting on your desk in the morning.
Focus on Relationships
The time you’re not at work is your time to form and maintain meaningful relationships with friends and family. The word “maintain” is the most important here. You have to keep in touch and make plans instead of putting your relationships on the back burner. You especially shouldn’t let work get in the way of your friends and family outside of work.
Manage Your Time at Work
A lot of the time when people talk about work-life balance, they only talk about things to do at home or how to work less. The truth is, what you do while you’re at work matters, too. If you make easy, broken down to-do lists and plan your day accordingly, you can get more done while you’re at work and have less to worry about once you get home.
Be Honest
Allow yourself to be honest with yourself, your colleagues, and your boss. Recognize what you can and can’t handle. Communicate your needs. Ask for help when you need it. Again, the way you handle your work itself can help you stress less at home.