We’ve all heard of the famous phrase “work-life balance,” but how many of us have actually achieved it for real?
Work-life balance is all about managing the demands of your professional life while also having enough time and energy to enjoy your personal life.
According to statistics, nearly 60% of workers around the world have said that they enjoy an excellent work-life balance, but 77% have said that they have experienced burnout.
Along with a healthy work-life balance, it’s also important to give importance to your mental health.
So, if you’re struggling to find the perfect balance between work, life, and mental health, then here are some tips to get you started!
1. Prioritize Your Values
The first step toward enjoying a good balance of work, life, and mental health is to understand which values you prioritize and want to stick to.
For example, if enjoying some time with your children every day is a priority to you, make sure your schedule is made in a way that accommodates your plans.
Try to spend some time thinking about the most important activities or goals you wish to achieve every day or every week. Consider your personal interests, hobbies, and anything else you feel is relevant.
Once you devote enough time to these activities, you’ll soon notice that there’s a healthy balance between your personal time and the time you give to your profession.
2. Set Manageable Goals at Work
Yes, work life can get extremely hectic at times, which is why it’s important to set goals that you can achieve and manage.
For example, if there’s a difficult task assigned to you, try to break it down into smaller goals so that you can complete the task by taking small steps.
When you’re able to meet deadlines and priorities, you’ll automatically feel a sense of accomplishment, which will boost your confidence.
In fact, the more control you have over your work, the better your mental health is. You’ll not only reduce work-related stress, but you’ll also find the work enjoyable. So, set realistic goals and deadlines in the form of a “to-do” list.
3. Block Out Distractions
In today’s world, it’s pretty easy to get distracted, especially since we’re all scrolling through social media posts all the time.
But if you keep getting distracted in the middle of your work, your stress levels will increase, and your productivity will get hampered.
To combat any potential distractions, turn on the “Do not disturb” mode on your phone or install timer apps like Pomodoro that will help you focus better.
Maintain short bursts of focused energy in your work so that you can complete your goals on time.
It might be difficult to resist the temptation to look into your phone for messages and notifications, but once you do it, you’ll feel so much more relaxed and refreshed.
4. Reward Yourself
When you procrastinate or keep having negative thoughts about your personal or professional life, your mental health deteriorates. Pretty soon, you’ll start feeling depressed, anxious, angry, or even lonely.
Therefore, it’s important to notice your achievements and reward yourself whenever you complete a task. You don’t need to do anything too fancy. Just make sure you feel good about completing the task at hand.
For example, if you have listed down a series of tasks, give yourself a small reward in the form of a short break after you do well on the first task. Whether it’s a walk to the coffee shop or a power nap, it’s essential that you recognize your improvements.
5. Review Your Finances
Nobody likes to go through their finances, but if you constantly see yourself in debt or your bank balance is reaching extremely low limits, you need to sit down and evaluate where things need improvement.
Try to look at areas where you can cut down on spending. For example, if you don’t really need a new phone, there’s no point scrolling through websites or visiting stores to look for phones.
Or if your second-hand car works quite well, you don’t have to spend unnecessary amounts of money buying a first-hand car.
Knowing when to stop spending is crucial because a strong credit score and a good bank balance can truly improve your mental and psychological health.
6. Visit a Professional Treatment Center
If you find it impossible to maintain a good work-life balance, you can talk to a professional for advice.
Many counselors and therapists suggest enrolling in a mental health center to give yourself a much-needed break.
For example, you can connect with a good mental health facility California that will give you a personalized treatment plan based on the levels of stress you’ve experienced, as well as your background, family history, and any history of physical or mental health issues.
A good mental health rehab center can work wonders, especially since you’ll be detached from the outside world and get enough time to focus on yourself.
7. Be Honest with Others
Very often, the biggest cause of burnout and mental breakdowns in a person’s work life is caused by their inability to speak up when they feel overwhelmed.
Even though most companies understand the importance of mental health, it’s important for employees to be honest with each other, especially their managers, when they’re not able to cope with the workload.
If you feel that you need a break, talk to your colleagues or senior management and see if you can take a breather.
Chances are, you’re not alone in this journey, and there will be others who must be feeling the same emotions. Allow others to give their opinions, but make sure your views are heard as well.
8. Practice Mindfulness
One beautiful way to manage a healthy work-life balance is by practicing mindfulness. This technique urges you to focus on the present without worrying about the future and be grateful for all the opportunities in life. So, take some time out and make sure to practice mindfulness every day!
Conclusion
Remember, practicing these strategies for a day or two won’t make much difference. So, even if you don’t feel like it, be consistent. You can even create a routine about when you would do which of these.
With regular practice and commitment to a better life, you’ll find the perfect sweet spot!
