Demands at home and at work can take a toll on an individual’s physical and mental health. People’s drive to succeed professionally and be considered for promotions or leadership positions, as well as their economic need to maintain employment can force people to never really “check out” mentally from work despite being off the clock. Growing technology has made it harder to separate oneself from work as calls, texts, emails, and now even video conferencing notifications come through people’s phones. Work leaves countless people with little time for themselves especially those that must take on two or three jobs to make ends meet.  

The entity an individual works at more than likely will continue with or without the person. Positions come and go as do staff members. The responsibilities get delegated to others, or new staff is hired to do the job. Whether a person is there or not, the work will get done. In other words, at work, people are replaceable. However, in life, a person is not. If a person neglects to take care of their personal needs, serious consequences can result for them and for those who love them. So, keep in mind the following tips to help balance work and personal life.  

Break time

Make sure you take your scheduled breaks at work. Take a short walk. Go outside for a little bit to get some fresh air. Socialize with peers but steer the conversation away from work topics.

Travel light

Leave work at work. Resist the urge to bring work home at the end of the day. Establish boundaries so that work and personal life do not mix. There will be exceptions to be made but limit those and be careful because if you do it once, it will become easier to do it “just one more time”.

Digital divide

Keep separate apps on your phone for work and personal email to resist checking work email after hours. The message will be there when you return to work.

Rely on others

There are too many tasks to complete daily at work and at home. However, you are not alone. Ask others to help and be willing to help others when they need it too.   

Sleep

Sleep is becoming a luxury when it is an essential function so that the body can recharge. Set a bedtime for yourself and stick to it. Decide on a bedtime routine to help you relax before you fall asleep. Avoid bringing work into your bedroom. It changes the environment and the ambiance and can affect your sleep. Productivity levels and attention span diminish when a person is tired. Additionally, a person is prone to accidents especially if working with heavy machinery or fast-paced environments.   

Nourish your body and mind

Be sure to establish your mealtimes and stick to them. People tend to shortchange their bodies when it comes to busy schedules and meals. Prepare your lunch ahead of time and take it to work.   

Stay connected

Working long hours leaves little time for personal and social life. Maintain your friendships and do not let work isolate you from those you care about. Guard your family time. Staying socially connected is vital to mental health.  

Do not forget about yourself

In such a hurried world, we tend to neglect our own personal needs, health, and interests. Spend time doing the healthy things that you enjoy. Do not hesitate to spend time by yourself as alone time benefits mental health.  

Finding appropriate ways to balance life in all aspects has great benefits for the individual’s mental and emotional state.