Getting the right work-life balance: Yes, it's possible!
Last month we celebrated World Mental Health Day but we haven’t forgotten the importance of this worldwide subject.
One of the things we should strive for is having the right work-life balance in order to improve our mental well being. Working is a necessity but not something that should take its toll on our health.
Therefore, getting the right work-life balance so that your well being is put to the forefront alongside your career is paramount. It is definitely possible to exercise the two in sync. We show you how it’s possible with the following 5 helpful tips:
The power of saying “no"
Sometimes being available every minute of every hour for your employer's demands isn’t such a great idea. If you get tasked with work that is going way over your head or you’re drowning with duties that you thought didn’t come as part of the package, then it really is okay to just take a pause.
Pause, deep breath, reflect and decide.
The decision is in your hands if you want to take on the extra work. That’s entirely up to you and it’s okay to go ahead if you feel that that’s what you want to do.
Having said that, it’s completely fine to say no! (Politely, mind you). If you can't or don't want to take on the extras, just say no.
However, the problem with this point is, most of us don’t know how to. It’s hard to speak up and probably easier to just go along with what’s been asked but get practising! The more you practise saying no, the easier it will get to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
Get in early
Try within your means to stick with a regular early morning start. Okay, this could be difficult if there were deadlines to meet the night before but try your best to adhere to a more structured day. If you get in early, chances are you will get more work done before the end of the working day. Falling into a routine can be challenging but once you get into the swing of it, it will be like second nature to you.
If you have a setback here or there, that’s okay; it's normal. But the idea is that adhering to this will give you that much-needed time for yourself.
Prioritise some time for you, everyday
There’s no surprise knowing that it’s vital to have some time for yourself. Everyday. Doing this will help you appreciate yourself more and have focus. It will help energise your mental well being so that you are ready to continue your tasks for the day ahead.
Great examples of prioritising yourself at work are:
Taking a quick coffee break
Going out for lunch as opposed to sitting at your desk
Taking a short walk
Read a book
Listen to a podcast
Watch a missed episode of your favourite show
These are all simple yet effective ways of achieving some downtime and reconnecting with yourself, your thoughts and feelings.
Taking a small step back from work even whilst you’re at work isn’t a bad thing. You need it! So make sure you prioritise yourself to achieve a good work-life balance.
Take care of your health
How many of us leave our health at the bottom of our to-do list? We’re guessing quite a lot! Getting enough sleep, eating clean and healthy foods and exercising are things we already know about but if work is taking precedence, then?
Getting that work-life balance sorted is essential so that we have time to take care of our bodies the way in which they deserve. If you’re bogged down with work, you won’t be able to fulfil this tip. Don’t work yourself into the ground if it is at the expense of your health.
Take time out to prioritise and optimise your health!
Find a job you love
There’s no point in waking up everyday dreading your day ahead at work. This is certainly no good for your mental well being either. If you can relate to this fear of impending doom, then it's probably time to call it quits and move on to searching for something that suits you better and above all, something you actually love.
It’s true that you won’t like absolutely everything there is about your job but if it discourages you from feeling happy, then it defeats the whole work-life balance formula.
If this is you, have your CV ready and start job hunting.
Remember here at Send Me Your CV, our professional CV writers are more than happy to help write you the perfect CV. Call us today for more information and we will be happy to help.
