There are many values and ideas our team stand by, and one of those is the importance of work life balance. This is not something we simply say, it is something we actively do. To put it bluntly, work life balance is a necessity, not an option! So, today, we thought we could discuss some ways you can help bring more balance to your own life, and why it is important for you to do so!
Work life balance is key, and certainly something that more and more professionals are advocating for. In short, work life balance is the things you can do to help create a better equilibrium between the demands of your career and the healthy management of your personal life. While it may seem like a daunting task, finding this balance can have incredible benefits on both your physical and mental health. It can also make you a better employee, boss, manager, friend, partner, parent, sibling, and overall human being.
According to an article from Forbes, “94% of working professionals reported working more than 50 hours per week and nearly half said they worked more than 65 hours per week in a Harvard Business School survey.”
There is no doubt that the stress from long hours at the office can be damaging to our overall well being!
Tips for finding balance
Set healthy boundaries
Whether working from home, or office, it is important to set boundaries to protect your happiness. Be sure to understand what is expected of you in your position, be clear about policies such as sick time and holidays and ask questions if you are unsure of your roles and responsibilities.
If you are given breaks, take advantage of them by allowing yourself to walk away from your desk for the allotted time to recharge your batteries. Use your work hours efficiently, and when your workday is finished, use the rest of your day or evening to live your life outside of your job. While it is important to dedicate yourself to your job, this doesn’t mean 24/7!
Power off
As we mentioned above, it is also important to power off when your workday is complete. While technology is certainly wonderful in many ways, it has also given us constant access to our emails, messages, and incoming of information. Difficult as it may be, unplug from your job when the day is done. This means not checking your emails, voice mails, or incoming messages from colleagues or supervisors.
It is important to have this down time to fill your cup with the hobbies and activities you enjoy outside of work.
Prioritize self care
We often get so wrapped up in our careers, that we forget about what makes us happy. Whether it be activities like journaling, meditating or reading to travelling, running or watching your favourite movie, carving out time to take care of yourself is incredibly important to achieving work life balance. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your body to help alleviate stress, “physical activity may help bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Although this function is often referred to as a runner’s high, any aerobic activity, such as a rousing game of tennis or a nature hike, can contribute to this same feeling.”
Achieving work life balance won’t happen overnight! We understand that it may take some time (and adjusting) but we assure you it is well worth the investment.
Start small and take each day at a time and we are certain you will soon find yourself better managing the seemingly elusive work life balance!
