Nowadays, work-life balance can seem like an impossible task. Certainly, Covid-19 and the increase use of technology have made employees accessible all around the clock. Many working professionals often report working more hours than stipulated, which no doubt has its effect on health, relationships and happiness. Achieving happiness and success, requires having a balance between working and personal life. A work-life balance translates differently to each individual. Below we will explore the truth about finding the balance that is right for you.
Right to Unplug
As mentioned earlier, technology has aided our lives in a variety of ways, from travelling to tools that make work easier. However, it has produced a culture of continuous accessibility. The working day appears to go on forever. It is important to put away your phone at times and enjoy the moment. Notifications on your phone disrupt your free time and can cause stress in your body. Recommendations like not texting during your child’s football match and not sending work-related emails when out with friends, can make a huge difference. Let quality time actually feel like quality time. You will create a stronger habit of resilience by not reacting to work updates. Resilient individuals have a better sense of control over their lives.
Self-Care
It is important to invest in your well-being when excess overcomes self-care. Self-care allows you to make better use of your time. Healthy food, enough sleep and regular exercise provide you with the drive to face any obstacle that comes your way. Take care of yourself first, and you will have more time and energy to dedicate to others. When our schedules become full, the first item to go, is often exercise. Exercise is a powerful stress reliever. It releases feel-good endorphins into your system that increase feelings of pleasure. Yoga and meditation are also forms of exercise. Start simple, with deep breathing exercises as you are travelling to work or a quick five-minute meditation session, if you are short of time.
Start Small and Move From There
We have all been there: yoyo diets and New Year resolutions that are forgotten a few days later. When we take on too much too soon, we are less likely to succeed, and it goes for work-life balance too. Making extreme changes, such as reducing working hours from 80 to 40 hours or introducing a daily run from never to every day, will most likely fail. So start small, and make your way up to a comfortable level. If you want to modify a routine in your life, start with a reachable goal and see if you can succeed. Then move from there.
In conclusion, above we have seen that work-life balance is possible to attain. When you frame your priorities and cultivate a healthy balance in your daily life , you realign and re-learn what truly matters, so you can excel at your goals without sacrificing your happiness.
If you think that you can benefit from professional support on this issue you can reach out here.
Charlot Cauchi is a Trainee Gestalt Psychotherapist currently reading for a Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy with Gestalt Psychotherapy Training Institute Malta (GPTIM) and working at Willingness as a Trainee Psychotherapist. He has experience with adult clients with mental health difficulties, anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, stress and relational issues.
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