When was the last time you took a vacation? Are you feeling rested? Or is the only thing on your mind the deadline you have for work? So, if you feel like that describes you, let’s talk about why work-life balance is important.
More than 60 percent of the people in the United States say they feel like their work-life balance is out of whack. So how do you balance work and life?
So, Why is Work-Life Balance Essential?
As humans, we tend to fall into the everyday motions life brings. We fall into the trap of believing we will be productive for the entire 8 hours of our workday. In reality, that’s almost impossible for many individuals to achieve.
Then there are people who do not stop working, which has an equally adverse effect on our life and mental health. Workaholics struggle to maintain self-care and are more likely to become fatigued, burnt out, and develop stress-related issues.
It’s essential to participate in a variety of activities and ensure you have an adequate amount of rest. These tasks can be a lot to juggle, but balance increases the chances for success in your work and home life.
Do I Have an Unhealthy Work-Life Balance?
You may not know if you have an unhealthy work-life balance because you’ve fallen into the motions, and that’s just how your life is. It’s normal to you and what you may think works best. But I challenge you to look at another approach.
Here are some situations that create an unhealthy work-life balance:
- Always Feeling Tired/Burnout: After working long hours with no break, you will start to experience mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. This can lead to chronic stress.
- Lack of Self-Care: Failing to put yourself first during busy times in your life will start to rear its ugly head sooner or later. Don’t skip going to the gym or getting in a good walk, enjoying a good night’s rest, and taking time for hobbies and family time.
- Strained Relationships: If you feel like the relationships in your life have been struggling or are nonexistent, it could be due to this lack of balance. Most people working the same number of hours understand a busy life. However, if you don’t take the time to be with these people or reach out, these relationships will ultimately suffer. Here is an idea, invite someone for lunch this week.
- Constantly Overworking: Working at least 40 hours a week already takes away from life and family. If you are someone that works holidays and weekends, works over 40 hours a week, and you are missing family/friend activities, it may be time to take a break. Examine your balance and see what changes you can make to improve your quality of life.
How to Improve Work-life Balance
1| Design a home office- Design a work-from-home office that separates life from work.
2| Set blocks of time for specific tasks- Set a designated time for checking emails, conducting meetings, and making phone calls. Refrain from letting these tasks creep into your personal life or into the bed with you! (a big no-no)
3| Take a lunch break– This is a quick, simple break that only takes 30 minutes to an hour of your day, but our minds crave the rest. Lunch breaks provide a nice reset while you refuel your body.
4| End work at a set time- When you work from home, it’s easy to stay at your desk or working area past time to stop. Remember that the following workday will come, and you can continue your task – after all, we are never really done. Am I right? Don’t let every little work project stop you from living life for yourself and with your family.
5| Practice mindfulness- Being mindful makes imbalance challenging to ignore. Initially, the practice may be frustrating, but that will subside. Pay attention to the way you feel, and don’t ignore it. Simply start meditation and breathing exercises.
These exercises are quick and can be done during the workday. It helps to recenter yourself when something is bothering you instead of letting it build up.
Taking a step back from work for a minute usually results in better problem-solving skills. Then, before you know it, that stressful situation will be handled.
Work to Live Don’t Live to Work!
Maintain a Work-Life Balance
Many people think working remotely makes it easier to achieve a work-life balance. But working from home presents its own set of challenges. Whether you work from home or in an office, the challenge is real. We hope you have learned something new and ideas for maintaining a work-life balance you can incorporate.