Striking the right balance between work and personal time

The global pandemic brought about significant changes to the way we work. Remote work, initially conceived as a necessity in the early days of the pandemic, has now been established in the hybrid work model, its many advantages recognised by employers and workers alike. However, it has also made it more difficult to set clear boundaries between work and the rest of our lives.

Indeed, there is so much talk lately about ‘work-life balance’, but what exactly does it mean and why is it so important?

Work-life balance refers to achieving the right equilibrium between your professional and personal life. While this may look different for everyone, one thing is certain: this balance is important not only for your physical and mental well-being, allowing you the time and space to pursue other interests and cultivate your personal relationships, but also for your productivity, leading to better results and increasing job satisfaction.

So, how do you get there? Despite the constant pressure to always be performing at the highest level, there are ways to foster balance between work and personal time. Here are some ways you can do that.

Prioritise

Write down your tasks in order of importance and be realistic about what you can achieve in a given day. You will probably never get to the bottom of that to-do list; letting this become your goal will only lead to increased stress and an overall sense of dissatisfaction about your performance, which, in turn, creates negative feelings around your work.

Set clear boundaries between work and personal time

This is harder to do when you are working from home; try to keep a separate space where you do your work, from which you can physically remove yourself at the end of the work day. If that is not possible, mark the transition in a way that your brain registers it’s time to switch off. For example, shutting your computer means that you will no longer be sucked into work-related email.

Take that holiday

To perform your best, you need to ‘sharpen the saw’ regularly. Taking time off work will help you disconnect and recharge, allowing you to return with a renewed perspective and able to tackle your workload more effectively.

Know your limits

Become clear with yourself and your superiors about how much work you can take on. Keep saying ‘yes’, and you might find yourself on the edge of burnout. Delegate tasks when possible, and don’t be afraid to speak up when confronted with unrealistic expectations.

Talk about it

If you feel you are struggling to balance your work and personal life, talk to someone from your organisation you trust. It might be your manager, your HR representative, or a co-worker whose advice you value; they can help in different ways, from redistributing your workload to helping you reshift your mindset.

Schedule it, or it won’t happen

Be as intentional about your time off as you are about your work. Put on your calendar not only your deadlines and work appointments, but the rest of your life, too: hobbies, personal pursuits, and social plans. And most importantly, stick to them.

Want to find out more about how to achieve a fulfilling balance between your career and personal life? Read our article Feeling burnt out? We can help!

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