In today’s fast-paced world, establishing a balance between work and personal life has become more important then ever before. All the technology in the world with the constant connectivity has made it increasingly difficult to disconnect from work and focus on personal life which can lead to stress, burnout and poor mental health.
I must admit that I fall fault with this, I find myself replying to emails at 11 o’clock at night, regularly checking and replying to my LinkedIn messages after work hours and constantly wanting to keep updated with everything going on. I have listed below, a few key points that help me and may help you to achieve that work life balance for a happy and healthy life.
- Setting realistic goals and priorities would be the first step towards achieving a better work life balance. Take the time to evaluate your current commitments, both at work and in your personal life. This can help to identify areas where you can make changes to create a better balance.
- Setting boundaries is also one of the most important things you can do to achieve a work life balance. This would involve setting specific times when you are available for work and when you will be available for work and when you are off duty. Going back to me replying to emails at silly o’clock, there is no reason why I can’t reply to that email, when I get back into the office in the morning.
- That leads me onto another thing, disconnect. It is so easy to get yourself sucked into work, even when you’re not at work. Turn off your work email and put away your phone when you are spending time with friends and family.
- Make time for yourself and prioritise self-care! It is crucial to make time for yourself and do things for you. That may be going for a walk, reading a book, engaging in a hobby. I like to get cuddled up on sofa with my dog, put Keeping Up with the Kardashians on and work on the latest addition of the Puzzler (sad I know). I also like to go on long dog walks and explore new places. I find this really helps me relax, turn off and feel better. After work, I also like to participate in Body Pump and Spin classes, this really helps, especially after a stressful day, to focus on something else and clear my mind.
- Rutherford Briant offer 2 days per week working from home, I utilise this to save time (and money!) on travelling to work. This means I can lie in a little longer, walk my dog or catch up with housework on my lunch break and as soon as the workday is over, I turn my laptop off. Avoiding that dreaded rush hour traffic, I am already home.
So there you have it, achieving a better work life balance is absolutely possible with a little effort, commitment, and effective time management. Unplugging regularly, prioritising self-care and taking time off can create a more balanced and fulfilling life. Not to mention protecting your mental health and preventing burn out!