Does the perfect work/life balance exist?
More often than not, for most people, work is at the forefront of our lives, and we tend to fit everything else around it. The current climate pushes us to want to overachieve in a professional capacity causing us to work longer days and more demanding hours, which naturally impacts our work/life balance.
We must accept that life is not scripted, and every so often, there may be a bump in the road or an event beyond your control which throws you out of your daily routine. Still, although it seems near impossible to keep the perfect balance, there are many things we can do to maintain the state of equilibrium.
1. Do you love your job?
Finding a job that you have a genuine interest in and love is going to make your life a lot easier. Don’t get me wrong, we will always have those tough days, it is inevitable – but having a tough day in a job that you love around a team that you enjoy working with is half the battle.
2. Do you look after your physical AND mental health?
Now, this is an important one. All office-based folk will know how it can feel to spend the entire day sitting at a desk. Giving yourself an hour in the day to pop to the gym or head out on a walk will do wonders for both your physical and mental health, so make sure you filter time in to do this – Endorphins are wonderful! And speaking of mental health, more so than ever, there is a huge narrative around looking after your noggin, so whether it is going to your weekly therapy session or taking 15 minutes to decompress – DO IT.
3. Unplug.
We live in a world that is driven by the powerful force of technology. We wake up and look at our phones. Ride the tube, and play a game on our phones. Get to work, use a computer. Get home, watch some television – you get my point. Allowing yourself some downtime from electronics will give you the opportunity for your thoughts and ideas to evolve. Although technology is wonderful in many ways, e.g. having quicker access to emails, thus making us more efficient, you also have to ensure you aren’t overdoing it. In fact, science has proven that if you work more than 55 hours in a week, your productivity plummets, essentially making these extra hours counterproductive.
4. Do you allow time for your family and friends?
Arguably, the three pillars of life are your work, your home and your friends/family. Whether you know it or not, humans need social interaction outside of work. Whilst your job is important, by no means should it be your entire life.
5. Set boundaries.
Boundaries are hugely important regarding work/life balance and avoiding burnout. Post-COVID, many of us have benefitted from flexible working and the ability to work from home. Although this can be hugely beneficial to us, we must make sure we aren’t blurring the lines between work time and home time. To help with this, try getting a set-up away from where you tend to relax on an evening, or request a work phone, then you will be able to shut it off and clock out.
