Sometimes it can feel like all you’re doing is clocking in and out, commuting to and from work, and that’s that. It’s exhausting!
It’s important for your mental and physical well-being to carve out some much needed you-time. If you find that it’s impossible to abandon work when you’re home then here are some tips on drawing the line.
ADD SOME DOWNTIME TO YOUR SCHEDULE
It’s important to fully recharge and enjoy time with friends and family. If you have a tendency to get swamped with work then schedule some family-activities for the weekend. Not only will you have something to look forward to but it’s an extra incentive to manage your time well!
A good tip is to schedule recurring social activities, like a monthly book club or a weekly dinner. By having regular activities like these, you’ll be able to plan around them rather than planning your social life around work!
GET PHYSICAL
After a long day at work, sometimes the only thing you want to do is slump into the sofa and binge-watch old episodes of Friends. However, using the time to exercise is far more beneficial! Getting your blood pumping will ultimately boost your energy and improve your ability to concentrate.
A survey was undertaken in 2014 where the team gathered data from a population of working adults. The goal was to see if there was a correlation between their exercise habits and their experience of resolving work and home demands.
The results? Well, those who exercised gradually developed good self-efficacy. The term refers to being able to take things on and get things done. So, those who exercised in their free time were more ready to take on more challenges at work whilst also improving their home life!
SET BOUNDARIES
There are evenings after work when your head is still reeling. Either going over what was said in a meeting or preparing a mental to-do list for everything you need to do the following day. However, when it comes to creating a good work/life balance the magic word is closure.
The Mental Health Foundation says that if you do happen to take work home with you, you should try and confine it to a certain room – and be able to close the door on it. It’s also important to lay some boundaries to your availability to avoid burning out. For example: if colleagues need to contact you out of work set a specific time-frame where you’re open to their calls. Anything after then can wait!
CREATE AND STICK TO A DAILY ROUTINE
Implementing a routine will keep you on track for achieving a balance. Keeping habits, such as sleeping eight hours, getting outside daily and eating right, will make you happier and healthier in the long run.
Create a set of achievable goals each day and work to reach them. Being able to meet priorities will give you that wondrous sense of accomplishment and control, which is absolutely essential for a healthy mindset!
According to Lewis Howes, entrepreneur and author of The School of Greatness, sticking to a deadline will “absolutely reflect in your mental clarity, emotional capacity, relationships and creativity”.
UNPLUG
After being behind a computer screen and being bombarded with e-mails, it’s important to carve out some time to just be. Whether it’s drawing, colouring in or meditating, ditch the screens and practice some mindfulness!
According to scientists, we each have a “set point” of happiness that remains relatively stable. Research shows that meditation can actually increase our set point of happiness – in one study, just after eight weeks of meditating for an hour a day, participants saw an increase in their “set happiness levels”.
To make it easier, there are many apps out there that guide you in meditation. Headspace is a popular one. It only takes 10 minutes out of your day and it will leave you feeling calm and ready to start the day fresh.
