October is National Work and Family Month! Celebrating a healthy work-life balance benefits your mental and physical health, strengthens relationships, and boosts productivity and happiness. Check out these 5 ways you can improve your work-life balance:
Plan Ahead: If you plan your day, you can combine work with leisure, social, or fitness activities. Take a walk with co-workers, exercise, or read a book during your lunch or in between work tasks. This gives you a break from work and allows you time to disconnect and ground yourself.
Clock out completely: It’s easy to let work spill over into your personal time especially when you work from home. When your shift is over, make sure to clock out completely by shutting off all your electronic work devices, stepping away from your workspace and trying not to talk about work-related subjects.
Establish Boundaries: Make sure to communicate boundaries to colleagues and clients at work. Tell them the hours you plan on working and when you’re available to respond. This can help reduce the need to check in after hours or on your time off. A great tool to use is your calendar and setting blocks of time that you are or aren’t available for your managers and colleagues to see. You can also set your status as away or available.
Get new hobbies or attend new events after work: If you have something fun to do after work or on the weekends, it will make your workdays go by faster and make you fully disconnect and feel less stuck in a routine. Hobbies and attending exciting events can reduce stress, improve mental health, and increase creativity and clarity.
Use all of your PTO: Did you know that taking vacations improves your heart health? It’s important to use and take all your time off. It helps to reset your mind and gives you new exciting experiences outside your normal, everyday schedule. If you plan your vacations accordingly you will always have something to look forward to.
Now, that’s a balance we can all get behind! To see some Arizona employment opportunities go to arizonaatwork.com.
Source: BetterUp.com