How to Achieve a Healthy Work / Life Balance

Many high achieving employees “live to work” but can run the risk of experiencing burnout after over committing to work activities or pushing themselves too hard. In fact, it is estimated that two thirds of employees feel burnout either occasionally or often. This can impact on performance in the workplace and our general health and wellbeing. It is important to recognise not only the value of high-quality output and achieving targets but also the need to fully relax after the working week and completely unwind. Our social lives can help us feel connected to those close to us and pleasurable activities can help us to achieve satisfaction and contentment away from the office. Finding the right work / life balance that allows for high performance in the workplace but the space and time to relax and enjoy life away from our jobs can be challenging. However, with some simple tips and advice most people can gain greater control over this balance and find true harmony.

Perfectionism can be counterproductive

On the surface perfectionism can seem like a positive attribute but in reality, it can lead to setting unrealistic goals and taking on a volume of work that cannot be completed to timescale. Recognise that perfectionism can be counterproductive and learn to accept that an important part of learning and personal development is to make mistakes and occasionally fail. This valuable life lesson can help to give perspective across a career and can promote a healthy mindset both in and out of work. As Einstein once said simply and succinctly “failure is success in progress.”

Stop blurring your work and home life

Many employees will have spent significant periods of time working from home during the covid-19 pandemic and for some staff hybrid or fully remote forms of work have continued after the restrictions on movement and group gatherings have been lifted. Working from home can help us to improve our work / life balance as it often comes with a greater degree of flexibility over our working hours. This can enable a greater balance of home tasks and those in our working lives. For example, the kids can be picked up from school and work can fit around such tasks. However, one major drawback of remote working is that it can be all too easy to work longer hours or even start working over part of the weekend due to the convenience of having a home office. This practice should be stopped as it encroaches on our own personal time and can increase the likelihood of burnout. Remember that evenings and weekends are a vital opportunity to unwind and recuperate from intensive periods of focus during the working days.

Diet and exercise

Having a healthy diet and taking regular exercise can be a keyway to achieve a better work / life balance. Taking regular exercise whilst maintaining a healthy diet ensures that our bodies and minds are in peak condition. This is vital for extended periods of concentration and maintaining a high work rate. Aim to take a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week and 2 hours of muscle strengthening activities. In addition, eat a diet that is ideally cooked from fresh and is rich in vitamins, minerals, protein and complex carbohydrates. Also consider limiting your alcohol intake as this can lead to fatigue and loss of focus.

Socialise and cultivate a hobby

An important part of everyone’s life is to be able to connect with friends and loved ones and share experiences together. Socialising is a fundamental part of enjoying time away from work and can help boost our mood and help us stay connected. Ensuring that weekends remain free to undertake pleasurable activities with friends and family is a key part of achieving a healthy work / life balance. In addition, it can be exceptionally rewarding to cultivate a new hobby, especially if it is one that helps you learn a new skill or find relaxation and focus without any time constraints or pressures.

Consider professional coaching

Sometimes people can seem to be doing all the right actions and still struggle to achieve a healthy work / life balance. In addition, high performing workers can succumb to burnout without sensing any danger signs beforehand. This is usually due to being “too close” to the day-to-day circumstances which cause this imbalance and not being able to view the situation pragmatically. In such cases a professional coach such as the team at Theta Coaching Services can help to untangle complex working situations and help the client gain clarity on a more healthy and beneficial way to approach work. If you are looking to gain more control over your work / life balance, contact Theta to arrange some sessions that can be tailored towards achieving the perfect work / life balance whilst minimizing the risk of burnout.