Maintaining a healthy work-life balance means you’re present in the moment and not feeling overwhelmed or worried you should be doing something else with your time. The balance isn’t always easy to achieve. But it certainly can be done. Here are a few tips to help you get started as you juggle to find a healthy balance.
Take the First Step Toward Finding Balance in Life
Assess the level of stress you feel and the amount of downtime you enjoy. One sign you strike a healthy balance is that you feel productive while on the job, and you’re able to relax and find joy when you’re away from work. If you’re stressed about family obligations while at work and worried about work deadlines when you’re off the clock, that could be the first clue that your life may be off balance.
Signs of a healthy work-life balance include:
- Actively enjoying your friends and family
- Finding time to relax and recharge
- Meeting deadlines at work
- Prioritizing self-care
Admit When You Need Change
Letting your boss know when you’re overwhelmed at work is a good idea. It’s in their best interest to help you achieve balance since happy workers tend to be more productive on the job and take fewer sick days.
Many people have difficulty balancing work and family at times. Children have a lot of needs, and parents can feel tight on time and low on energy. Even if you don’t have children, many other responsibilities may cause you to be overwhelmed at times. There’s no shame in asking for help.
Tips for Work-Life Balance
While everyone’s situation is unique, there are six steps you can take to maintain a better work-life balance.
Define Your Priorities and Goals
Setting achievable goals is key. When you set realistic goals in advance, you’ll feel satisfaction taking even small steps toward those goals. It’s rewarding to check off items on your long to-do list. For example, if your goal this year is to cook more homemade meals, set a goal to carve out more time each week for grocery shopping, food prep and relaxing at the dinner table — and take the win-win for healthy eating, too.
Manage Your Time Wisely
One of the best ways to manage time wisely is to avoid personal distractions while at work, including social media. If you continuously receive calls or texts throughout the workday that could otherwise wait, consider letting the person know you need time to focus while at work. And on the other hand, it’s equally important to silence work calls and emails when you’re off the clock. Setting technology aside — unplugging completely from the world around you — can be a great way to reset your mind and ensure you’re mentally equipped to handle whatever stresses the next day may bring.
Be Present
If you’re constantly distracted by the idea that you should be doing something else, you won’t be productive where you are. Placing a high value on your personal time allows you to feel present at home and find joy in the moment. It helps foster positive relationships. Staying focused at work can give you satisfaction from completing tasks, meeting deadlines and being productive.
Remain Flexible Within Healthy Boundaries
It’s important for your mental health to set boundaries at home and work. It’s not a good idea to routinely cover for a coworker or continue helping a friend who seems to take advantage of you. Honoring these boundaries is critical. But remember that exceptions are OK sometimes, especially if being flexible makes you happy, too.
Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health
Study after study confirms the value of good nutrition, healthy sleep habits and managing stress — these key areas greatly impact on your mental, emotional and physical health, as well as your personal relationships. Understand the importance of whole-person care and consider setting some simple health goals. Focus on self-care to help in all aspects of your work-life balance.
Know Your Limits Before You Reach Them
Build mental breaks into your routine. While we can’t simply ignore our kids or blow off work deadlines, we can recognize burnout before it completely overtakes us. Ask for help — at home and work — when you feel overly stressed or anxious about your long to-do list. Rather than trying to be productive every minute of the day, find time to relax and accept that downtime is a key aspect of a healthy work-life balance.
We’re Here When You Need Us
Our experts can help you achieve a healthy balance in life. Whether you need to reassess your priorities or feel burnt out and constantly stressed, we’re here for you. Let us guide you in creating a healthy work-life balance. Learn more about ways we can help.
