How to find the perfect work life balance for you

The pressure to succeed in every aspect of life is inescapable, we’re working longer hours than ever before and, unsurprisingly, as a consequence many feel that their home life and mental wellbeing is suffering.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to balance work with your personal life but it is important to remember that no one expects you to be superhuman, so you shouldn’t either!

Believe it or not, it is possible to find the perfect work life balance by following these easy steps!

Learn to let go

You don’t have to be available at all times!

Being alert and accessible is integral to being effective at work but when you walk out of the office at the end of a long day, it’s important for you to also mentally check out.

Leave work in the office and take full ownership of your evenings so there’s a clear distinction between your work and home life.

In order to switch off from work stress, stop reading your emails before bed or while you’re making dinner, stop making to-do lists for the next day or planning your tasks for the next week.

Instead, give that time over to you and unwind. Make time to have a bath, read a book, cook a new recipe or watch a film. You’ll soon feel much more relaxed, and may even find yourself sleeping better as a result!

Priorities and perspective

To avoid feeling overwhelmed with the tasks in front of you, it’s helpful to carefully plan your time and prioritise what’s really important over what can wait a little longer.

A recent study by the Mental Health Foundation found that working long hours made 27% of employees feel depressed, 34% feel anxious and 58% feel irritable. This doesn’t have to be you!

Take control of your time and ensure that you’re not working any longer than you need to by setting mini deadlines for yourself. This way less time is wasted and overall productivity is increased.

Why give yourself until the official deadline of Friday if you know that you can have it done by Thursday afternoon? This will alleviate stress and prevent work from spilling over into your free time so you can enjoy your evenings and weekends without any guilt attached!

Bring fun into your routine

Your day doesn’t have to solely revolve around work. Incorporating fun activities into your everyday routine is a fantastic way to maintain a work/life balance.
There’s no reason why you can’t take time out for yourself whilst holding down a full-time job to exercise or socialise.