It can be a challenge to find a good balance between work and private life. Home office and telework have become the new norm and the dividing lines between work and leisure have become more diffuse. Finding a good balance can be easier said than done – but it is important for both your mental and physical health.
What does life balance mean?
Life balance can be defined as the “distribution of time and focus between work, family and leisure activities”. Essentially, this means that you handle the obligations at work and in private life so that they are compatible with each other, without adversely affecting any of the areas.
Why is it important to find a good balance between work and leisure?
The pressure in today’s hectic labor market often leads to privacy being downgraded. Job stress is too upward. Working from home has meant that parents have had to juggle homeschooling and careers. This has led to increased isolation for those who live alone. Those who have not been able to work from home, but who have been physically in the workplace, have experienced increased concerns in relation to staying healthy.
When you are overworked, you suffer from both physical and mental health. Although it may feel like you are working harder, both productivity and quality of work are declining, and there is a great danger that you will face the wall. When this spreads to privacy, the pressure will only increase, and it may feel impossible to get things in order.
The benefits of a good life balance
It is entirely possible to achieve a good balance between work and leisure. Creating space for yourself means taking care of your own physical and mental health and it means that you become more present, productive, and organized. Which in turn means that you will feel better both at work and at home.
Here we give you some tips on the way to a better balance between work and private life.
Stop being a perfectionist
There is no “perfect” balance between work and leisure. Some days the job must take precedence, other days you must have more focus on your own life. Have a realistic view of how you can manage your time so that you can cope with life’s ups and downs. Releasing the pressure to be perfect leads to less stress and better mental health.
Set boundaries and stick to them
Set up a plan for when you start and end work and communicate this to your colleagues. Turn off work equipment and associated alerts completely at the end of the day – this makes it easier to mentally adjust to “home mode”. When your colleagues realize that you are unavailable after a certain time, you will be able to enjoy your free time without interruption.
Planning and schedule
To find the right balance between work and leisure, it is wise to set up a schedule. This applies to both work and leisure. If you plan a week or more ahead of time, you will be better organized without the job taking over completely. Sometimes it can be tempting to work an hour longer, but when you have planned your own activities, you should prioritize these. Having an overview of the work tasks helps you to find out what needs to be prioritized and what needs less focus. This means less chaos and a better overview – a win-win situation.
Prioritize health
As mentioned, the imbalance between work and leisure affects health. Be aware of what your body and mind are telling you. Do you have pain? Do you lack energy? Do you feel anxious or depressed? You have the right to take some time off. Get regular physical activity to speed up your endorphins and body. It could be a short workout or a walk around the neighborhood. Also, be sure to take care of your mental health. It can be through physical activity, socializing or just by turning off the gadgets from time to time.
Learn to say “no”
“Focus is about saying no” – Steve Jobs
It is not necessarily negative to say no to tasks if you encounter an unrealistic amount of work or try to meet many deadlines at the same time. Being able to understand and convey what you are capable of is actually important for doing well at work. This contributes to a better quality of life, and you thrive better at work.
