As you go about your day, it’s fairly difficult not to think of things that need to be accomplished and the amount of work you have on your plate. But with this high demand for responsibilities, is it healthy to always be thinking about your work? Or do you sometimes find yourself neglecting your family and friends just so you could finish a project at work?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, it may be time to re-assess your priorities. Your boss might appreciate the fact that you’re putting in extra hours or working during your off days, but what about you?
Instead of always thinking about work, you should think about what would benefit your mental, physical and spiritual health. You can’t deny that when you approach something with the right mindset, it feels like the task is already half done.
So how do you make sure that your work-life balance is in check? Here are some tips you can follow so that you can achieve wellness in all aspects of your life. Hopefully, these can help you achieve your work-life balance much faster.
1. Set clear boundaries with your coworkers and boss
One of the most effective ways to improve your work-life balance is by setting boundaries with your peers. It’s not a secret that the people within your place of work expect you to be around for them, especially during late nights or weekends, but at what cost?
If it’s important to your career development that you work late or even on weekends, then, by all means, go ahead. But if you don’t feel comfortable doing so anymore, make it clear to your peers, especially your boss. Tell them the hours during which you’d be willing to work and respect those boundaries.
2. Take advantage of technology
Technology today has made life a lot easier for everyone. From online grocery shopping to using smartphones as alarm clocks, it’s getting harder to imagine how people survived without them at some point. Take advantage of what technology to offer through these three ways:
Save time by doing everything you need online
It can be difficult to run errands if you’re busy with work, and not everyone has the freedom to take a day off for them. So, use technology to your advantage by accomplishing what you need to do online. For instance, instead of physically going to an exam center for your test to get a CSCS green card, you could just do it online and save yourself some time.
Using cloud storage to keep files
Technology today has made it easier to store important documents through the use of various cloud storage applications. This way, you could easily access the information from any device you own and avoid carrying a lot of papers around with you.
Using task-management apps for better to-do lists
When it comes to juggling work, family, friends, and social lives, sometimes keeping track of what needs to be done can become overwhelming. To-do apps have been developed to help you manage your tasks better and save you time in the process.
3. Grow a garden
Although it might be hard to squeeze this into your already busy schedule, taking a few minutes out of your day could go a long way for your wellness. From working with plants and flowers to planting veggies, working with your hands will surely give you a sense of accomplishment.
4. Get enough sleep
Getting quality sleep is one of the best ways to prevent burnout during the day. When you start feeling drowsy or your energy levels are dropping, call it a night and head to bed. Studies show that you only need seven to eight hours of sleep for your body and mind to function properly to avoid burnout.
5. Stand up frequently
When you’re always sitting down, your body starts to weaken and you won’t be able to function at full capacity. So try to stand up for a few minutes every hour to take some time out of your day and stretch your body. By doing this, you’ll feel refreshed and energized no matter what you’re doing.
6. Listen to music
If you need inspiration or motivation during work hours, make sure to bring your earphones along. You could also try listening to music in the morning when you wake up or during lunchtime to help energize you for the rest of the day.
7. Drink lots of water
Everyone knows that staying hydrated is important, but many fail to drink enough water throughout their days. That’s why you should make it a point to drink at least eight glasses of water in a day. You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel.
Hopefully, these tips are helpful in your quest to find the perfect work-life balance. Remember that it’s important to take time for yourself and invest in what makes you happy because that will make all aspects of your life better at the end of the day.