Working from home has become the new normal these past few years. Most people have preferred not to return to the office unless they had to after working a few years from home. But working from home also means a toll to our mental, physical and emotinal health. Especailly with having access to our cell phones and computers 24/7. Work stress doesn’t always stay at work anymore. Finding this balance can help us manage our time, concentrate at work and be more present with family and friends
What is Work-Life Balance?
Work-life balance is more than just waiting for the clock to turn 5 PM or waiting for the 5 days to pass until the 2 days you have off on the weekend. Since most people work remotely at home, the lines have blurred so 5 PM or Friday may not mean the end of the workday or work week. Having a true work-life balance consists of caring for ourselves which serves us both professionally and personally.
A work-life balance consists of allocating time and energy to different tasks. Because there could be so many different nuances, it can be difficult t distinguish the end of the work day and the beginning of leisure time. Our work depends on optimal brain function and optional brain function depends on physical and emotional well-being. We need to do ourselves a favour and prioritize both work and activities that stimulate creativity and make us feel great.
Impact of Unbalanced Work-Life
Work-Life balance is all about finding that sweet medium between work life and personal life. And having it unbalanced can result in unfavourable consequences.
- Increased Stress
- Tension in Relationships
- A Decline in Mental Health
How to Achieve a Work-Life Balance
It is important to find and create achievable steps in order to find out what works best. But keep in mind, that what works for me may not work for you and vice versa.
Step 1: Pause and Evaluate
In either a journal or a notes app, figure out what is working and what is not. Reflect on it. Ask yourself questions like:
- Am I committing enough time and energy to people and things that are important to me?
- Do I feel aligned with my professional or personal goals? Why or why not?
- Where do I need more energy?
- Am I spending enough quality time doing what I really want?
Step 2: Access Your Priorities
Once you have an idea of what needs to be done, you’ll know what priorities are the most important.
- What matters to me and am I doing enough of it?
- Are there any compromises I can make? Compromises I won’t make?
- What are some alternative steps I can take to make sure I am devoting enough time and energy to my goals and relationships?
Step 3: Time Management
There are only so many hours in a day and it is so important to schedule out work, personal responsibilities (this includes cooking, working out, cleaning etc.), date nights and sleep. Habit stacking is a great way to do 2 things at once.
Step 4: Establish Boundaries
Boundaries are an important part of time management and our emotional well-being. Creating time and energy for specific tasks, as well as creating boundaries for rest and play will help create balance. Communicating these boundaries is just as important.
Step 5: Reflect, Refine and Repeat
Creating a new schedule or plan takes time to work out the kinks and issues that aren’t working. When this happens, it is important to reflect and refine what works and what doesn’t. Creating a work-life balance is meant to decrease stress and increase our state of well-being.
What Does It Look Like?
A work-life balance is less about time and more about setting boundaries between work and play that can help us thrive in both areas of life. Here are some simple ideas on how to create this balance!
- Getting in a 20-minute walk before work
- Making coffee and sitting to journal or meditate in the morning
- Preparing and bringing a favourite meal for lunch at work
- Taking a call or meeting on a walk outside
- Making room for small breaks during the workday
- Reading or scrolling social media, instead of working, while taking a lunch break
- Signing up for a post-work workout
- Planning a date night or a dinner with friends
- Putting our devices on do-not-disturb or silencing our work phone and email
- Using your paid time off to recharge
- And let’s not forget self-care! This post on self-care for women’s ministry leaders is super helpful!
Finding a good work-life balance isn’t always easy to do but practice makes perfect, or at least progress.
