How To Achieve A Better Work-Life Balance

Working is an important part of many of our lives. It enables us to put food on the table, clothes on our backs and heats our homes. However, in the fast-paced world that we live in today, sometimes we can let work take over. Finding it difficult to separate our work lives and our personal lives, we end up letting work slowly but surely eat up more and more of our time.

Whether it’s replying to emails after hours on the way home from work, taking your laptop home for the weekend, or even just working later than planned. Unless it’s necessary, working outside of your set working hours isn’t always a positive thing.

There seems to be a belief that the harder you work, the better the results you’ll achieve. In fact, working too hard can result in a burn out instead.

According to Mates In Mind, one in six UK workers are experiencing depression, stress or anxiety right now. While not all mental health problems are related to work,  it is the case for some.  It may sound cliché, but don’t work harder, work smarter. Achieving a good work-life balance can result in a higher productivity level, improved physical and mental health and a happier life overall.

So, How Can You Achieve A Better Work-Life Balance?

Step Away/Clock Out

This should be the case both during and at the end of your working day. Don’t get into the trap of working through your lunch break and staying behind ‘just for fifteen minutes’ – which always ends up being over an hour. When lunchtime hits, leave your area of work. Whether that be going to the on-site canteen or taking a walk to a local shop. Enjoy your lunch break without thinking about work.

When you reach the end of the working day, put your tools down/turn off your laptop and clock out. Your working day is done and unless it’s an emergency, any unfinished work can be completed tomorrow. When you leave your working environment whether that be an office in a skyscraper or a building site, don’t look back.

Say No

If you’re the kind of person that’s always taking on extra work, you’ll continuously be asked to do more. As a team player, you’ll want to help colleagues, be liked and if you can help with something, why wouldn’t you?
If you continue down this road, you’ll end up overloaded, stressed and the quality of your work will decrease and your work-life balance will become unbalanced. While it isn’t always easy, sometimes you just have to say no. If you’re not comfortable doing that, simply reply with “can I get back to you about that?” Give yourself time to truly weigh up whether you can fit the extra task into your working hours.

Delegate

When you’re used to doing everything for yourself, it’s not an easy task to let others take over some of your work-load, but sometimes it’s necessary. Start by prioritising your work. Focus your energy and time on the high-priority tasks that you want to complete. As for the smaller tasks, delegate them to or ask for help from those around you. As per the last tip, make sure those you’re delegating tasks to can handle them without becoming overloaded themselves.

Take Holidays

If you’re employed by a company, you’ll be allocated a set amount of holiday days to take each year. In the UK, the minimum holiday allowance for full-time employees is 20 days plus 8 bank holidays. Make use of them all. Whether that’s taking a couple of extra days off each month, going away on a month-long holiday or taking mini-breaks throughout the year, use your holiday days in a way that suits you. Time away from work is a necessity, not a luxury.

Have ‘Me’ Time

For a healthy work-life balance, make sure that when you are away from work, you’re making time for yourself. Don’t spend all of your spare time running errands. Step away from it all to have some ‘me time’. That doesn’t have to mean meditation and face masks, it could be sitting in front of the TV watching a boxset, heading to the gym or even just taking a walk around your local park.

Want more about how to stay healthy in a working environment? Find out more about How To Stay Healthy In The Trades Industry.