How to prioritise a healthy work-life balance?

These are my first thoughts 💭

It is important to ask yourself if are you are consciously managing your time and energy to ensure that work does not overshadow your personal responsibilities and life and vice versa.

Work-life balance is, essentially, maintaining a harmonious relationship between your work and personal life to meet both professional and personal commitments.

This is difficult to achieve most of the time, but there are things we can do to help us understand ourselves and our needs better.

1. Identify your boundaries (and where you don’t have boundaries!) - Where is work bleeding into your life and which moments are leaving your feeling overwhelmed or exhausted? Ideas: don’t check your phone after 8 pm, take emails off your phone in moments you want to switch off and use your ‘Do not disturb’ option on your phone to tune out of work and tune into home.

2. Notice Patterns - Are there particular days when boundaries tend to become blurred? Are there specific people that test your boundaries more than others?

3. Define the rules of the game - Establish the boundaries that work for you and allow you to find the right balance - what will help you protect your time and space?

4. Start small, look for some short-term quick wins - Choose one of the simpler areas to redefine your boundaries. Consider which area will have the most significant impact on both your life and those around you. Identify the change that you are most motivated to make and start with that.

5. Start implementing your plan of action - Don’t hesitate to talk to your close colleagues about setting boundaries. Share how the lack of work boundaries means you take the dregs home  and outline the steps you plan to take to address this. This conversation can help your colleagues to respect your needs.

Boundaries should be positively received at work, as when we are rested and happy humans we are better employees!

S et realistic goals
T ake time for yourself
O ptimise your working hours to boost productivity and reduce burnout
P ause and reflect