An effective work-life balance is critical for both physical and mental wellness. Striking this balance will allow you to become more productive at work, decrease stress levels, and increase overall happiness.
Establishing a healthy balance can be challenging. Here are some suggestions to make it simpler:
1. Make a schedule.
Your schedule is essential in creating a healthy work-life balance, from working from an office, home, or on the go. A schedule allows you to prioritize activities and set goals so you can meet your objectives successfully.
Create your schedule using physical documents or digital apps; alternatively, design a tailored template tailored specifically to your needs.
Make sure that your schedule includes breaks and days off, especially if you work in an office environment.
2. Take a lunch break.
An extended lunch break can help rejuvenate both body and mind, leaving you refreshed for the remainder of your workday.
Employees who don’t take regular breaks may become overwhelmed and exhausted, negatively affecting both performance and mental wellbeing. Therefore, it is crucial that we encourage them to take breaks regularly.
Studies show that individuals who take lunch breaks are healthier and more productive. By being able to focus on tasks more clearly, lunch break takers can reduce burnout while improving mental wellbeing (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011).
3. Take time off.
Recharging can be done through taking some time off work to rediscover yourself and your goals. Being out of the office environment will enable you to relax more effectively when returning back into it and make better decisions when returning back into it.
Studies show that those who take vacations benefit from lower rates of heart disease, less stress and depression, higher life satisfaction, and closer relationships between family and friends. It can even strengthen these ties!
Employees who fail to take breaks often can suffer burnout – a state in which physical, emotional and mental fatigue overwhelm an individual’s capacity to function normally – leading them to stop taking part in activities they once enjoyed. Furthermore, unscheduled absenteeism costs businesses an estimated amount of $3,600 for hourly workers and $2600 for salaried staff members per employee every year.
4. Set goals.
Setting goals can help you focus on what really matters and provide motivation to move towards your future.
Setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound goals is crucial in reaching your desired outcomes and living the lifestyle you wish for.
Attaining one’s goals requires commitment and work. But the rewards can be enormously satisfying!
Preserving yourself will give you the energy and motivation necessary to reach your goals. This includes eating healthily and avoiding things that make you feel tired, depressed or unhealthy.
Balance between work and home life is highly individualistic; each person should discover what works for them. But it is wise to review your balance regularly and make adjustments as needed.
5. Take care of yourself.
Caretaking of yourself is integral to creating a balanced work-life environment. Neglecting to take proper care can result in stress, anxiety and depression that threaten mental health.
Take steps toward self-care by setting aside time each day to do something just for yourself – whether that be reading a book, listening to music or practicing yoga.
Jessica Lambart, a New York City-based life coach and co-founder of Women on Call advises taking a holistic approach to finding balance in both work and life by considering your priorities before making adjustments to your schedule.
She suggests setting aside some time each week just for you and yourself to look over your schedule and assess whether there are areas in which you may not be taking good enough care of yourself – this might involve setting boundaries with someone who demands too much of your attention or creating better boundaries at work.