There was a time when maintaining a good work-life balance meant leaving your job on time, spending more time with family, or hitting the gym on your lunch break. The pandemic and lockdowns, however, changed what work-life balance means. With so many employees working from home, the boundaries between work and home life have increasingly blurred.
Why is maintaining a good work-life balance important? More than anything, a good work-life balance reduces the rate of employee, stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. This is beneficial for employees and businesses, too.
Work-Life Balance Tips
So, how can you tip your work-life balance in the right direction? Here are some tips that can get you on the right track:
- Identify your productivity peaks: It doesn’t matter when you get your work done during the course of your workday, so long as it gets done. Everyone has a time during the day when they are at their peak, productivity-wise. Identify when you are most creative and productive and structure your workday around those time periods.
- Take regular breaks: Plan regular breaks into your workday. Whether you are working from home or in an office, taking breaks is healthy and helpful. Use your break to recharge, refuel with a drink or snack, connect with friends or family, and even complete small tasks unrelated to work.
- Maintain strict working hours: Whatever your official workday hours are, stick to them. Avoid answering emails or otherwise allow your workday to impact your life after hours.
- Pursue your passions: Find time to do what you love. Whether you enjoy exercising, sports, reading, crafting, music, or spending quality time with family and friends, pursue something your love every day. Refreshing your mind and restoring your creativity by pursuing your passion is essential to maintain your work-life balance.
- Schedule social activities: After the challenges of enduring the pandemic and lockdowns, human connection is more important than ever. Though it may be tempting to cancel social plans, keeping at least one social event on the calendar each week is worthwhile.
- Learn to say no: Don’t feel pressured to say “yes” to every request from your manager or a coworker. Learn to prioritize and make yourself available without compromising your work, health, and well-being.
- Prioritize your mental health and well-being: Remember that your work-life balance isn’t just about one factor; it requires following several steps like the ones above and ensuring that your mental health and well-being are always a top priority. Take care of yourself, your mind, and your body.
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