It’s never easy to keep a good work-life balance that benefits both your career and your well-being. We’ve all tried to work hard and then play hard but ultimately one usually suffers. With these five tips, could you finally manage it?
With what feels like an ongoing struggle with achieving the ideal work-life balance, recent research shows that two-thirds of British employeesย are not happy with their work-life balance. Sure, itโs not easy to achieve, but the work-life balance isnโt a myth.
As the workplace becomes increasingly competitive and the financial stresses of living in the city are on the rise, more of the population are finding themselves putting in extra hours at work, which eats into what should be (much-needed) downtime.
According to a recent survey commissioned by outsourcing platform Airtasker, given the chance of getting help with our daily tasks, reading came up as top chosen pastime with a majority 18% of Brits wanting more time to read, whilst watching TV came second (15%) and a pamper session (14%) came in third.
Airtasker has come up with five tips to give your well-being a boost whilst keeping up with your career:
Know when to say no
This one is a little tougher for some. If youโre the kind of person that finds it hard to say no to your boss or teammates when they ask for help, youโll find your plate overflowing more often than not.
Thereโs no need to respond straight away when someone asks you for help with a task. Tell them youโll get back to them and take a moment to check whether you have time to do it. If not, they wonโt be offended if you say no. Remember, itโs better to do a few things well rather than burning the candle at both ends trying to get too much done.
Leave work at work
Our smartphones have somehow made us more productive and less productive at the same time. Despite all the distractions they offer, they also give us a chance to do our work from pretty much anywhere. This isnโt necessarily a good thing though. You really shouldnโt be looking at work emails at 11.30pm
A good way to switch your mind off when leaving work is to write a to-do list for the following day. Then shut down and do your best to leave any work stresses in the office.
Learn how to work โsmartโ
In an age of useless email threads and meetings about meetings, you must master your focus and learn how to work smarter. Itโs easy to unconsciously waste time while at the office, leaving work piled up for you at the end of the day.
Prioritisation is the number one thing to master if you want to be efficient and productive in your work hours. This links back to the first point about being able to say no. Donโt be afraid to decline meeting invites if your presence isnโt necessary.
- Set deadlines for each step in each task and stick to them.
- Block out time in your diary or move to a quiet area to get a presentation done if you need to.
- Outsource smaller tasks that you feel are a waste of your time. If youโre able to eliminate the โfaffโ and cut out the noise, youโll find yourself getting a lot more done in a lot less time.
Plot in your work and personal time
According to a recent study, quality โme-timeโ can actually make you a better employee. And of course, itโs also great for your well-being. So, how do you make sure youโre getting it?
Try this: plot self-care time into your diary and give it as much importance as you do your career. Have a clear divide between your work hours and your personal hours, and donโt let either intrude into each other.
If youโre on the work-obsessed side, think of it this way โ if you focus on your personal well-being, youโll be a more engaged employee and perform better at work. Itโs a win-win.
Listen to your mind and body
A poor work-life balance takes a toll on your physical health, not just your mental well-being. Exercise is oh-so-important to de-stress both your body and mind; thanks to the wonderful endorphins it releases. Try and get a half hour every day โ even a simple walk can reduce stress and re-energise you.
Similarly, meditation and other types of relaxing activities pre or post-work can help you disengage from stressful thoughts about work. Even if itโs just for a bit.
