What should a good work-life balance look like?
Achieving a healthy work-life balance might look different for everyone, but there are some common denominators we can all strive for. For instance, it’s important to feel fulfilled both at work and at home. This can be challenging if we have other obligations like caring for family members or managing our health, but it’s important to try to maintain a sense of equilibrium.
It can be easy to think that working long hours or being under a lot of stress is normal, especially if we’ve been doing it for a while or we see all our colleagues doing the same thing. But unless we stop and reassess every once in a while, these assumptions and habits around work can become deep-rooted.
Of course, it’s not always possible to make changes at work: if you’re on a zero-hours contract, you might not feel comfortable speaking up about wanting shorter hours, for example, or you might need to work long hours to earn enough money to pay your bills.
Three tips to getting a great balance between life and work
There are many things you can do to boost your work-life balance. Here are three tips for finding the perfect balance between your work life and your home life.
Ask your bosses for support – you shouldn’t have to work on your balance by yourself. At the end of the day, you spend a great deal of time at work! Your bosses should be able to support you by providing a comfortable and healthy place to work and putting excess items into storage in Oxford to give you more room to work. They should offer you training to support your position and ensure you are taking regular breaks.
Your work-life balance won’t improve overnight, just like how your work habits have been built up over time. If your goal is to reduce screen time, try not to restrict yourself to a certain number of hours. Instead, pick a smaller target like taking a five-minute tech-free break each day. Also, try to plan and mix work activities with leisure, social, or fitness activities. For example, if you have several virtual meetings back-to-back, try taking them while you go for a walk.
Your physical, emotional and mental health should be your main concern. If you struggle with anxiety or depression and think therapy would benefit you, make time for those sessions, even if it means leaving work early or skipping your evening spin class. If you are battling a chronic illness, don’t be afraid to call in sick on rough days. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly causing you to take more days off in the future. Prioritizing your health doesn’t have to mean making big changes. It can be as simple as daily meditation or exercise. And, of course, don’t forget to visit a physician and a dental expert like this dentist in Boynton Beach regularly so they can help you keep your health in check.
The benefits of having a good work-life balance
There are many benefits to having a good work-life balance, not just for your personal life but for your output at work as well.
Health issues – long hours and overworking can lead to severe consequences for your health and well-being. This can include fatigue and stress, which are known to exacerbate existing medical conditions. Having a healthy work-life balance will improve your health issues and support keeping existing conditions under control.
Productivity levels – if you are happier in yourself and you are taking care of yourself, you are more likely to have a high output 9in the workplace. When we feel supported and engaged, we responded positively. Switching off the computer when you are supposed to and avoiding taking work home with you could be the key to better work productivity.
Mindfulness – If you are distracted by things at work or in your personal life, you may find it difficult to maintain your awareness and focus on the tasks you are trying to complete. Having a positive work-life balance can help you to achieve mindfulness in the workplace and at home.
