Achieving a Work Life Balance
You should work to live, not live to work. Easily said than done, isn't it?
I had to learn the hard way, when I used to be a workaholic and I had felt I worked and felt better under immense pressure. However I soon realised this seriously played havoc on my mental and physical health. I had no choice but to hold back and make changes to improve my life.
It's very important to develop and maintain a healthy work-life balance, as this is essential for your good mental and physical health. When you spend too much time working, it can often lead to burnout, stress, and other mental health issues.
It had been found that adverse mental health, through living with constant stress and anxiety can then lead onto the development of physical health issues and dis-ease.
Here are some useful tips that can help you improve your work-life balance and take care of your mental and physical health and wellbeing:
1. Set your boundaries:
Make sure you have clear boundaries between work and personal time. Set specific times for work and stick to them. Try to avoid checking work emails or taking work calls after hours. Remember that’s eating into your time and life!
2. Prioritise self-care:
Make sure you take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. This can include: exercise, meditation; eating a healthy diet; going for walks/strolls; getting out into nature; getting enough sleep and doing things you really enjoy.
3. Learn to say 'no':
It's important to set limits, boundaries and not over-commit yourself. Don't be afraid to say 'no' to requests or tasks that you know that you can't handle.
4. Manage your time:
Make a schedule and stick to it. Use tools like calendars, diary and to-do lists to stay organised and manage your time more efficiently.
5. Seek support:
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Talk to your manager, colleagues, or HR about ways to improve your work-life balance.
6. Never (EVER) tolerate bullying or harassment:
Challenge bullying by either calling it out and putting this in writing (an email). This often nips bullying right in the bud. Never tolerate or accept work place bullying from anyone, not even from your manager.