You can see people being exhausted and tired returning from work. Even saying that they want to quit the job, as they cannot take it anymore. But do you know why it happens? It’s basically because they do not know how to manage work life and personal life. Balancing both work and life may be so exhausting but you can still manage it. Doing the job does not mean overtiring yourself while doing it. To live a happy and healthy life, you need to maintain a work-life balance.
What is work-life balance?
Work-life balance basically means managing the time one spends at and outside the workplace. The time spent at work includes the responsibilities, duties that need to be fulfilled whereas the time spent outside work includes managing family relationships, own hobbies, and interests. Maintaining a work-life balance leads to a healthy work environment as well as a happy life. In addition, it helps to reduce stress and prevent burnout in the workplace.
The 8 best ways to improve your work-life balance
1. Find a job you love
The first step you should follow is to find the job that you love. If you don’t love what you are doing then it becomes a routine that you want to break. The feeling that you get from doing the job you love and the one who does it for a certain reason is totally different. Therefore you should first find the job you love to do. Working for the job that you love gives a sense of satisfaction however the job other than your interest becomes some kind of burden.
2. Set work hours
Setting work hours is one of the best ways to avoid burnout. If you keep thinking about the work even after returning home then it seems like a burden. Setting the work hours is important, otherwise, before you know it you will be replying to work-related emails at midnight and even on holidays or weekends. So set the work hours and stick to it.
3. Make time for yourself and your loved ones
Work is important but it does not mean that you will spend all your time at work. Learn to make time for yourself and your loved ones. You were an individual before you took up the job so you should also prioritize your personal life, family as well as your other loved ones. Spending time with your family and loved ones will definitely help you to relax and do better at work as well.
4. Learn to say “No”
You need to fulfill certain duties and responsibilities to perform the job. To work does not mean to exhaust yourself by constantly working up late at night. If a certain workload is not bearable then let your boss know about it. Consider yourself before others and do not overdo yourself. Learn to say no to occasional projects and extra commitments that wear you out and also if it won’t contribute to your work or personal objectives.
5. Take a break
Continuously doing work will be exhausting mentally and physically so remember to take a break. Working does not only mean completing the tasks and responsibilities but you need to enjoy the process as well. Taking a break not only helps to loosen up your muscles but also helps you to be more focused and productive. Not only that but also it helps to decrease the mental pressure that arises while working.
6. Prioritize your health
Giving priority to health rather than work is one of the most important things. The one thing that keeps you going in the future is your health, not your current work. You should not give more priority to your work than your health. Your overall physical, emotional and mental health should be your main concern. Being a workaholic and ignoring your health issues won’t do any good to you. You should manage your work along with keeping your health in check.
7. Enjoy holidays
You should enjoy your holidays. Take a vacation whether it may be a two days or two weeks trip. Disconnecting yourself from work responsibilities and shutting work completely off for a while is also important to enjoy yourself fully. Most people fear that taking time off from work will disrupt the workflow and a backlog of work will happen when they return. But this fear should not restrict you from taking a much-needed holiday break.
8. Encourage hobbies
Having a job does not mean to forbid all your hobbies and interests for the sake of work. You should enjoy your hobbies even after having a job that may be drawing, singing, reading books, painting and so on. A good work-life balance doesn’t only mean giving importance to work and family but also yourself. You often forget to make time for yourself and enjoy yourself so encouraging hobbies are one of the best ways to do it.
Also Read: Work From Home – Benefits & Drawbacks
