Do you think that you have a good home and work life balance? Be honest.
Most people don’t have the best balance, and usually end up taking their work home with them, either literally or mentally.
The thing is, by not putting the utmost importance on achieving this vital balance, you’re putting yourself at risk of all manner of dangerous conditions, such as stress, anxiety, and depression. We all need a balance in life - life can’t all be about work and it can’t all be about play either, we have to strike a fine balance which allows us to have both, with one not affecting the other. In terms of employment, employers also realise that a healthy employee is a productive and profitable employee, and this balance is an important part of that.
So, if you’re constantly thinking about discussions that went on around the meeting room chairs, how can you work towards increasing your balance?
Always Take Your Lunch Breaks
You should without fail take your lunch break and you should take all of it! Never be tempted to sit at your desk and munch away, under the false idea that it’s going to help you get more work done in the time you have. You’ll only end up having an energy slump later in the afternoon, and who wants to get crumbs down the back of their keyboard anyway?
Instead, use that time for yourself; go for a walk, call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, do some yoga, get some fresh air, do something for you. You might have an ergonomic chair, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit in it constantly!
Take Regular Exercise
Exercise is ideal for your health, but it’s also fantastic for reducing stress and clearing your mind too. It doesn’t have to be full on cardio, it can be something gentle like going for a walk with the dog, yoga with a friend, or it can be an exercise dance class that makes you laugh more than sweat. It doesn’t matter; the point is that you’re moving more and you’re giving yourself a boost of those feel good endorphins. If you can persuade a loved one to do the exercise with you, even better!
Place Importance on Down Time
Not doing anything productive away from work doesn’t mean you’re being lazy and wasting opportunities, it means you’re relaxing and recharging your batteries. This time is just as important as the time you spend around that modern collaborative office furniture, batting ideas back and forth. In fact, without this down time, you probably wouldn’t be fresh enough to come up with those ideas!
Use Your Annual Leave Allowance
Do you use up all your holiday time ever year? Hopefully you’re nodding your head and saying ‘yes’, but if you’re one of the many people who end up losing days simply by not using them, this has to change! Holidays aren’t meant to be luxuries, they’re there to help you rest and recharge, enjoy your time away from work and spend it with loved ones, or possibly alone, chilling the hell out!
You can have the best office furniture and desk set up around, but unless you take your holidays you’re going to be frazzled and out of ideas pretty quickly! Just think of the memories you can make with your loved ones on a beach somewhere far flung, or even spending time renovating your garden in the summer!
Leave Your Work At Your Desk
Never, ever take your work home with you in any way. When you leave the office at whatever time you’re supposed to leave, turn off from work and switch to home mode. This isn’t slacking, this is sensible and good for your health! Modern conference tables might be the location of your discussions during your working day, but once 5pm (or whatever time) rolls around, think of the sofa, the kitchen table, the TV, and the garden!
You should also never take any work home with you physically, e.g. work to do in the evenings to catch up. This totally defeats the object for a home and work life balance and should never be done.
With these ideas, you can easily boost your own home and work life balance, leaving you feeling fresh, recharged and totally in control of your work and your personal time too.