Do You Have a Good Work Life Balance?

Do You Have a Good Work Life Balance? | Future Force Personnel

Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just plain drained? After two years of a worldwide pandemic, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, the majority – 60% – of employees in the U.S. report struggling with their work-life balance.

Yet, it’s key to living a quality life and staying healthy and happy. So how can you tell if your work-life balance is out of whack and what can you do about it? Here are some tips to help you.

Why It is Important to Have a Good Work-Life Balance

Evaluate your balance

Just like when it comes to diet, sleep, and exercise, balance is key. The same too goes for work. It’s important to be productive and get your tasks done each day. Yet, if you’re spending too much time at work, or neglecting your family, home life, and health, then this will lead to fatigue, burnout, and even health-related issues from stress.

In short, if your work-life balance is spinning out of control, you’ll feel it. Are you more tired, cranky, stressed, and anxious? Are you skipping meals or stress eating? Are you up at night, checking texts and emails? These are all signs that your work-life balance needs some tuning.

Take small steps

While there’s no magic way to do that, there are some steps you can take to balance the scales and try to find a healthier approach to your day. However, it’s best to start off small. Your habits and lifestyle have been built over a period of time and you won’t be able to change them overnight. Instead, take small, meaningful steps.

For instance, set a specific bedtime that allows you to get enough rest – and stick to it. Turn off your phone, the TV or put that book down and get some shut-eye, so you have the mental and physical energy to feel your best the next day.

Incorporate more physical activity into your workday

The more you move around, the better you’ll feel. For instance, take breaks and walk around the office. Head outside for lunch and go for a walk. Ask your next meeting if they want to take a walk outdoors instead of sitting in the conference room. These all help you to combine both work and leisure activities and even get some exercise into the mix.

Focus on one task at a time

Set off blocks of time to get certain tasks done. Focus on those tasks alone and don’t try to multi-task. It might seem counterintuitive, but you’ll get more done when you focus, rather than try to do multiple things at once. You also reduce the risk of a mistake and feel less stressed. During these blocks of time, cut off distractions, like email notifications, so you can concentrate and make the most of your time.

Set boundaries

Whether you work at home or in the office, boundaries are key. Make sure you don’t check and respond to emails and texts from work after hours. Set a certain time to call it quits for the day. If you work from home, try to keep your work area separate from the rest of your home, so you can walk away from it completely during family time.

Reconsider your job

If your job is just too demanding or your boss doesn’t understand you have too much on your plate, perhaps it’s time for a move. One silver lining of the pandemic is that people have had the chance to step back and reevaluate their lives and careers. Right now, it might be time for a change, whether it’s with the field you work in, your hours, or whether or not you telecommute.

Need help finding a job that offers a better balance?

If you’re ready for a job that allows you to maintain more balance in your life, let Future Force help. We can learn more about your priorities and lifestyle and match you with positions that are a fit for your needs. Search our jobs now to get started with our temporary hiring agency.

 

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