Too many of us struggle with creating appropriate boundaries that allow us to balance our work life with our home life. The balancing act of working from home, or the office, while making time for ourselves has become a greater issue as life passes us by, leaving us burnt out and mentally fatigued.
A lack of professional boundaries has left people bringing stress back home, so all the energy that should go into spending quality time with your loved ones and enjoying a special meal in peace goes into managing work stress.
But this should never be the case, as there are many ways you can create the perfect work-life balance, allowing you to enjoy your personal life alongside your professional working one. Here are some strategies on how to disconnect in your downtime and bring back your passion for life.
Take Charge of Your Needs
It all starts with taking matters into your own hands. This applies to just about anyone; you could be overseas researching marine life 20 miles below sea level, juggling studying social work through online BSW programs with a part-time job, starting your dream cupcake bakery, or just getting through a 50-hour workweek. The only way you can achieve your desired disconnect and enjoy your downtime is by closely evaluating how your life is currently structured and where you want, or need, to make some changes.
Ensuring your loved ones know what you’re going through and how you’re feeling about work stressors allows them to create a support system for your well-being. You might find yourself needing to vent to release pent-up emotions from the workday, and sharing with a family member or partner can offer a fresh perspective on some work-related problems. If you’re struggling to juggle household tasks or personal chores, communicate your situation and don’t be afraid to lean on others for support.
Another great way of taking charge of your needs is to take part in healthier habits, such as eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, and putting time towards physical activity. If you’re sacrificing eating healthy meals and not following a good sleeping schedule because of work, it’s time to rethink your daily habits and start taking small steps to change this.
Communication with your employer is also crucial. You may find you’re readily accommodating everyone’s work requests and having a hard time saying no and setting firm boundaries. By opening friendly dialogue and communicating firmly on what is and isn’t possible, it creates openness not only for yourself but also for your coworkers who may not understand your capacity. This could hopefully lead to solutions and workload adjustments, or even improving the workspace itself.
Create a Work Space and Personal Space
If you’re working in a home office, find small ways in which you can make the space fit your work needs alone. When you don’t have a proper workspace that’s used for work alone, the lines between your job and personal life can become blurred. But what happens if you don’t have a separate room to flip into an office?
You Can:
Find a quiet area to accommodate your working needs; setting up a small desk or station that allows physical diversity can be a convenient way to associate this space with work and work alone. Another tip is to find ways to encourage movement, from either investing in a walking pad or a standing desk as it stimulates productivity and boosts mood. Wherever you set up a workspace, ensure that cleanliness and organization are a priority, as a clear desk gives you a clear mind!
Working from the office? We all know that once you get home from an outing, kicking off your shoes and changing into pajamas changes your energy levels and mental capacity. That’s one of the many benefits of designated workspaces. But if you’re coming home after a day at the office and struggling to stay away from your phone and emails, how can you prevent this?
Re-Program Your Devices for Your Own Well-Being
One of the hardest aspects of creating work boundaries is the 24/7 access our work has to us, and vice versa, because of today’s technologies. So here are some easy ways to ensure your work doesn’t blur the lines between your home and the office:
Make use of ‘Focus Mode’. Switching devices to this setting allows your computer or phone to block notifications outside of business hours so you won’t be tempted to open them.
Try out screen time limit tools. These handy tools allow you to access work-related apps only within work hours, forcing you to disconnect after work is done for the day.
Use time-tracking tools. Setting reminders that prompt you to stop working helps to prevent unwanted overtime!
Follow a Daily Ritual
To really get yourself ticking right, plan your body and mind for the long term. Research has found that establishing a routine helps patients with chronic diseases manage their lifestyles, which means it can also manage yours.
Creating a personal routine gives your body and mind cues for when you can truly relax. Some examples of possible rituals include making a simple coffee fix in the morning, setting an allocated time for hobbies you are passionate about, incorporating physical activity into your day, either before or after work, ensuring you have connection time, either with your spouse, family, or even pets.
Really, everybody deserves a life they enjoy. The changes people need to make in order to fully enjoy their downtime aren’t too hard to achieve once they know what to do and where to start. It’s time to start taking the necessary steps to disconnect and get started making life work for you.