How To Maintain a healthy Work/life balance
Sarah Corcoran
Blog Writer
It’s no surprise that since the beginning of the Covid-19 restrictions, our work/life balance may be out of sync. Many people are laid off, working from home or continuing to attend their workplace with very different working conditions. With our usual schedules and habits a thing of the past, the lines between work and leisure time have become blurred leaving us more tired and stressed than usual. Having balance that works for you can improve your mental, physical and emotional health. Here are our top tips to keep a healthy work-life balance, no matter what your situation is.
Set a schedule... and stick to it!
With many of us working from home from our kitchen tables or spare rooms, sometimes it’s hard to tell where work ends, and life begins. The best way to combat this is to set work hours for yourself and stick to them. Take a full hour for lunch at 1pm every day (or a time that suits you) and try to get outside at least once during your working day, maybe for a walk in a local park or even once around the block. Switch off notifications from your emails or work phone as soon as you finish and let colleagues know that you will get back to them as soon as you are back to work. While this may not always be possible depending on your job, it’s important to keep boundaries in place and find a balance that works for you.
Set achievable goals
One of the main causes of burnout is setting targets too high and failing to meet them. Set achievable goals for your personal, family and work life and work toward completing them within a reasonable time frame. Think about tasks that are important to maintaining a good work/life balance and prioritise them. Structuring your workday so the important tasks are completed early can increase productivity, which can lead to more free time to relax outside of work.
Prioritise your Health
It is always important to put your own health and that of your family above anything else. This is especially true during difficult and uncertain times. If you feel you are burnt out, feeling ill or the welfare of your family is at risk because of your work, it might be time to take a step back. Speak to your boss or HR team and try to work out how to improve your work/life balance to better serve your needs. We can only do our best and taking time to rest and recover means we can come back stronger.
Look After your body
Making time for your health starts by keeping your body in good condition so its strong enough to fight off any nasty bugs you are exposed to. Keeping fit and enjoying regular workouts are a great place to start. Join a gym with a variety of classes from high-intensity workouts to gentle yoga classes, like a neighbour of our Naas serviced offices, Osprey Leisure Centre. Osprey also have a state-of-the-art spa and thermal suite, to enjoy some much-deserved R&R. Make sure to schedule time each week to enjoy some exercise or some down-time, whatever that may involve.
Annual Leave
The statutory annual leave for a full-time worker in Ireland is 20 days or four working weeks. This time is designed not only to accommodate those with family commitments, it should be used to enjoy a well-deserved vacation. Taking time off work to fully switch off and recharge your batteries is important for both your mental and physical health. Many employees are worried about overburdening colleagues or being met with a huge workload upon return, but this should not stop you taking a well-deserved break. Make sure to leave your laptop at home and switch on your ‘out of office’ so you’re not disturbed. When you come back, you’ll be rejuvenated and ready to get back to work with a spring in your step!
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