It’s no secret that most employees struggle to set boundaries when it comes to achieving work-life balance. For example, are you guilty of taking a work call during family dinner? Or do you let distractions interfere with your productivity in the office?
Whatever the case may be, establishing a healthy balance is (at times) a common uphill battle for many. Of course, there will always be an overlap between your work and personal life—especially if you are adjusting to unexpected remote work—but luckily there are plenty of steps you can take to eliminate crossover and stress as much as possible.
Below are small and strategic ways to help you start readjusting your daily habits and set you on a path to efficient and rewarding days.
Use tech to your advantage
It is all too common to need a little distance from technology following a full workday. Muting any incoming emails or silencing your phone are great ways to unplug and live in the moment. However, it’s important not to completely discount technology all together. There are many ways you can utilize these tools to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
A great place to start is by eliminating pesky errands. After working a full day, you want to be able to spend time with your friends and family or even have some alone time. Jeopardizing that precious free time with a trip to the store is not ideal. There are ways technology can help you with this! For instance, you know those days when you work longer hours but you need to tend to the pile of dishes in your sink or other housekeeping tasks? We’re with you. Today’s on-demand tech simplifies these kinds of tasks by providing people with instant access to delivery services—whether online or on your phone. So, your home essentials, and specifically your cleaning supplies, can be delivered right to your front door.
If you are wondering how the act of cleaning helps you balance the many priorities you are juggling, this study on the restorative benefits of tidying your home might convince you to add this to your daily routine! Plus, outsourcing your time-consuming errands is a great way to free up some of your daily schedules.
Decompress after the workday
Whether you take advantage of your commute home or simply sit outside with your drink of choice after working from home, it’s crucial to decompress after a day’s work. This will help you leave work at work, and focus on your personal life. With most of the workforce finding themselves working remotely amidst the pandemic, this can be a major issue. The line between work and home is blurred, and employees can find themselves answering emails past their normal hours.
One common outlet, music, can be a great tool to help you calm down. Listening to music has so many benefits. Try creating a calming playlist to help you transition. Without going into a full mediating mode, let your mind relax during this time. Curate a list of songs that really help you relax. Spotify has some of these types of playlists pre-made to give you a great place to start!
Prioritize your health
Now, more than ever, your health needs to be a priority. Mentally and physically! If you are not caring for yourself, it will ultimately affect your work productivity as well as your personal relationships. With the flu season creeping up on us, as well as the allergy season in full bloom, ensure you are prepared and being proactive.
Mental health should be a focus as well. Not only will decompressing help you transition from work to home, it’s also important to prepare yourself for the day. A great way to do this is by establishing a solid morning routine. The habits you create throughout the start of the day will only set you up for success. Make your bed, eat a healthy breakfast, and drink your coffee before even turning your laptop on!
Be realistic with yourself
Don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself and self-reflect. If you close out your day feeling stressed and let that affect your free time, take a look into why that happened with a little self-analysis. Pinpointing the area you need to work on can help you immensely in the future.
If this becomes a continuous source of stress, reach out to your peers! Fellow coworkers may be experiencing the same thing. They could have solutions to help you find relief, or it could be an overarching problem with the company that should be addressed. Regardless, communication is key when it comes to balancing your work-home life. For some tips on how to effectively communicate with your coworkers, refer here.
Stick to a set schedule
While some companies are more flexible with working hours than others, make sure you stick to the schedule that is set. Keep yourself honest and play to your strengths. If you know you are a morning person, capitalize on those early hours where you’re most focused. Instead of rushing off to work after quickly getting ready, maybe wake up a couple of hours earlier and enjoy a peaceful morning. The same thing goes for the night owls! Head out for an after-dinner walk and add some self-care into your nighttime routine.
If you find that you are consistently breaking the schedule, account for some downtime within. This way, if you begin working outside the hours set, you won’t miss out on the crucial “me-time.” Being ahead of the curve will only help you when striving for an optimized schedule.
Always remember, you are not alone! A job can be taxing on your mental health and it is crucial to be able to identify when there’s an issue. Being aware of your actions will give you a great start to better yourself and improve on your overall well being.
Comment below your favorite way to relax after a long work day!