52% of employees in the UK say that their work often eats into their personal life.
Few of us need reminding that we should take a step back from work from time to time. Acknowledging this is one thing, but making changes to create a better work-life balance is probably another thing that keeps slipping down your to-do list because you’re too busy working.
Since the pandemic and prolonged lockdowns introduced more work into our homes, for many, integrating self-care into our schedules has become even more difficult to achieve.
So, here are eight realistic things you can introduce to your life to help improve your work-life balance with little to no effort.
1. Accept that it’s OK to say “no”
Learning to say no is one of the hardest things for many of us to do. Putting it into practice is even more difficult.
But saying no and accepting that it’s okay to do so is essential if you want to set clear boundaries.
The biggest upside of learning to say “no” to things that aren’t a priority is that it frees up more time and energy to say “yes” to those things that matter most.
2. Figure out what works best for you
Work out when you are at your most productive and use that time for the most important work-related activities.
Think about your work preferences. If you work from home, think about what time of day you’re most productive. Perhaps you could benefit from taking some exercise before you settle down to work or maybe you find it easier to relax by listening to music while you make lunch or the evening meal?
Pay attention to what makes you feel good and use that to determine the best way to manage your time.
3. Prevent procrastination
We’re all prone to procrastinate but if you know it is getting in the way of your productivity at work, consider using an app to help you retain better focus.
Freedom, Serene, and RescueTime are all apps that can help reduce distractions that tempt you away from work.
Alternatively, if you want to be brutal about how you spend your time and the type of work you do allows it, consider switching off your internet access completely for a set amount of time each day.
4. Put an embargo on emails
Email is one area where it’s too easy to let work seep into homelife, especially if you have work emails arriving on your phone as well as your computer.
Be ruthless with your time and set notifications to switch off when you finish work.
Better still, if possible, turn your phone off after work or do something that forces you to leave your phone behind – in a locker at the gym, buried in your bag and set to silence during a yoga session, or charging at home while you go for an evening walk or run.
The more you set boundaries on your time, the less people will expect a response after hours.
5. Make time to breathe
Studies show that people naturally go from full focus to physiological fatigue every 90 minutes.
Experts recommend taking a 15-minute break every 90 minutes to allow your brain to consolidate and retain learning.
Surprisingly, even 30 seconds away from work can help:
- Improve concentration
- Reduce stress
- Keep you feeling engaged
- Make work feel more enjoyable.
Build proper breaks into your working day. Start taking at least half an hour for lunch and, where possible, spend the time away from your desk or work space.
6. Put your health above all else
Your physical, emotional, and mental health should be your top priority.
If you struggle with anxiety or depression and think professional counselling might help, fit those sessions into your schedule, even if you have to leave work early or skip an evening exercise class.
If you suffer with a chronic illness, don’t be afraid to call in sick on rough days. Overworking yourself is counterproductive and will delay you getting better. Ignored, your health could continue to deteriorate and leave you having to take more days off to recover later down the line.
Putting your health first needn’t be radical. It could be as simple as setting aside a regular time for daily meditation or exercise.
7. Schedule quality time with friends and family
Make time to devote your energy and attention to your family.
Ideally every member of your family needs to buy into the plan and work towards setting aside time. For this to work, you all need to decide to take the steps necessary to carve this time out and dedicate quality time to spend with each other.
Alternatively, you might want to use this time to catch up with family members or other loved ones who live far away.
Define where you’ll devote your time and make sure you give priority to relationships and activities you value most.
Meanwhile, don’t forget that one of those relationships is with yourself! Allow yourself some quality downtime and give yourself permission to enjoy that time. Do whatever you need to let off steam and recharge your batteries.
8. Don’t expect perfection
Finally, remember there’s no such thing as perfect. So, instead of striving for the perfect schedule, aim for a realistic one.
Some days you might have to focus more on work, meanwhile there will be days when you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones.
