Work plays a significant part in our lives. It ensures that there’s food on the table, the electricity stays on, and there are savings for a rainy day. With current technology that makes employees accessible around the clock and fears of unemployment that incentivise unreasonable hours, work-life balance can seem unattainable. The compounding stress from endless working hours is damaging for relationships, health, and overall happiness. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is VITAL, not only for mental and physical health but productivity and performance.
Don’t be Afraid to Unplug
With better technology came the rise of telecommuting and ease of communication, improving working life in many ways. However, it has also normalised the expectation of constant accessibility, blurring the distinction between working and off-work hours. Receiving incessant notifications while you’re trying to relax is stressful, and can feel like you’re always on the clock. Make quality time true quality time by unplugging, i.e., disconnecting from the wifi, switching to airplane mode, or making use of the ‘Do Not Disturb’ function. While it will be difficult to unplug initially, continual practice will help build resilience.
Set Boundaries
Similar to unplugging, setting boundaries for yourself will help prevent burnout. Once out of the office, stop thinking about work commitments or upcoming projects. If possible, have separate devices for work that can be switched off once you clock out. If not, use different browsers and email addresses or separate work and personal platforms. Notify your colleagues and higher-ups about your boundaries, and set working hours beyond which you will not be accessible. Proper communication will help form a mutual respect for workplace limits and expectations.
Prioritise your Physical and Mental Health
Some things are crucial in life: eating, sleeping, social interaction, but one crucial need is often neglected: physical activity. Whenever work gets in the way, our allotted exercise time is often the first to go. However, exercise is vital in maintaining both physical and mental health. Not only does it help reduce stress by releasing endorphins, but it also puts you in a meditative state. Not all exercise has to be arduous or time-consuming, even a short walk or a light stretch is greatly beneficial.
Besides that, don’t be afraid to use your sick days. Not only will you be protecting your coworkers, overworking yourself may possibly cause you to need more days off in the future.
Understand that there is no such thing as “Perfection”
All this talk concerning healthy “work-life balance” probably makes it seem like you have to be extremely productive at work, clock out, then have a flourishing lifestyle off-work. While this is the ideal, it’s a rarity. Strive for a realistic work-life balance rather than an idealistic one. Some days may be work-heavy while other days may be spent mostly on leisure activities. However, one size does not fit all, some prefer the former while some want the latter. Balance is not perfection, but a sustainable and comfortable lifestyle.