It’s normal for work to seem like it’s taking over our lives. The desire to succeed is good to have, but sometimes it can leave us forgetting about our well-being. It’s important to have a healthy work-life balance to avoid damaging your physical, emotional, mental, and career health.
Balancing work and life is a lot easier said than done. There’s no perfect way to maintain work-life balance, but there are realistic ways. It’s critical to first realize that every day is not the same. Some days, you may focus more on yourself, other days you may be very productive at work, and some days you may have the energy to pursue your hobbies and spend time with family/ friends.
Listening to what your body feels that day, and naturally gravitates towards is the first step to having a realistic work-life balance. You should keep in mind that balance is achieved over time, not each day. Don’t try to fit work, family, your personal time, friends, and hobbies all in one day. Dedicate one evening to each and overtime you will find a rhythm and balance that is for you.
Take time to relax while you’re not at work. If you take the time to unwind, you will feel more energized while on the clock. Overworking yourself can be detrimental to your productivity and increase your chances of burnout.
Tips for unwinding while not at work:
- Unplug
- Exercise and/or meditate
- Don’t over commit
- Set goals
- Be efficient with your time at work
- Listen to music
Lastly, pay attention to when you are most productive at work and block that time off for your most important work-related activities. Structuring your day and maintaining a personal schedule for yourself can increase your productivity, which results in more free time to relax and be with loved ones outside of work.
