Some days it feels like you’re drowning in work. The projects start piling up, the emails don’t stop coming in, and you’re thinking about how you haven’t had a chance to get to the grocery store. Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is challenging, and it sometimes feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day to get everything done. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, these four tips will help you achieve a healthy work/life balance that you can maintain throughout your career.
Create boundaries
In a world where technology is ever present, it can be hard to disconnect from the office completely. A good way to maintain a healthy work/life balance is to set distinct boundaries between work and home. Make a conscious effort to disconnect from work once you leave the office. Disable your work email on your personal phone or choose to make your bedroom an electronics-free zone.
Leave work at the office
When you’re on your way home and stuck in rush hour traffic, your mind has plenty of time to wander. Very quickly, these thoughts may turn to your stresses from the workday and all the things you still need to complete tomorrow. These negative thoughts will only make your commute feel longer. Instead, treat your drive as time to decompress from your workday. Untuck your shirt, roll down the windows, crank up the radio, and think instead of what awaits you at home. Conversely, spend your commute to work in the morning prioritizing your day. This will help organize your thoughts, so you won’t feel as overwhelmed when you get into the office.
Make time to practice self-care
Between meetings, projects at work, and all the things you need to do around the house, it can become very easy to forget to care for yourself. To avoid burnout, set aside a specific time each night to do something you want to do, not something you have to do. If you enjoy exercising, do that. If you prefer long bubble baths, do that. Whatever self-Fcare means to you, even something as simple as a 5-minute face mask, you should make time for it every day. Take time to unwind and you’ll return to work feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Take breaks
Burnout is a prevalent issue for today’s working individual. When the projects feel like they’re piling up and email notification doesn’t stop dinging, it’s important to take a step back to breathe. Take a moment during your workday to step away from your desk, stretch your legs, and clear your mind. You’ll return to your to-do list feeling much calmer and ready to tackle all your tasks. If you feel that a short 5-minute break isn’t quite enough to do the trick, consider taking a longer break from work. Take a random Wednesday off, and spend the day doing something you enjoy. This mini-vacation will help take your mind off work for a short time and establish a healthy work/life balance, so you can return to the office feeling rejuvenated.
