Being constantly connected to the internet, as so many of us are, is amazing in many ways. We have access to a world of information on our phones, we can connect with our loved ones in a matter of moments and we are afforded countless conveniences from ordering food to booking tickets, ordering taxis and so much more simply by tapping on our Apple watches. However, while there are many advantages to constant connectivity, there are certainly a lot of downsides too, especially for those who use their devices for work.
Always having a mobile device makes it all but impossible to switch off from work. Despite your best efforts, when an email comes through from a client, it can be very difficult not to click on that notification. What’s more, you are essentially always on call, your boss or your colleagues can reach you at any time of the day or night and this is leading to major mental health problems for many individuals. Technology has led to a huge imbalance between our work lives and our personal lives but with a little tweaking, this imbalance can quickly be restored to healthier levels.
Continue reading to learn how you can maintain a healthier work/life balance moving forward.
Consider What’s Important
To begin your journey towards better balance in your life, begin by considering what is important to you in your life outside of work. Maybe you want to spend more time with family, see your mates more often, pursue a hobby, go to more live music events or catch up on all those movies you have been missing. Whatever it is that you want to do, write it down, allocate time for it and make sure that you carve time out for it in your schedule so you stick to your new goal.
Of course, it’s worth noting that your priorities are never set in stone and you should feel comfortable revisiting your priorities whenever you feel you may need to. Prioritising is also a highly personal effort, so be sure not to let anybody impact the decisions you make regarding your own personal prioritisation.
Set A Phone Schedule
In this era of information, our mobile phones have come to play a large role in the way we work. Since mobile devices are often to blame for issues with striking a healthy work/life balance, you might want to try setting a wellness schedule for your phone. If you use the same phone for your work and personal life, play around with the settings so you disable your work-related apps as soon as you clock off from the office.
If you have the budget for it, you may even choose to invest in a second phone that has nothing to do with your work on it. As soon as you’re off the clock, turn your work phone off and don’t look at it until you’re back at the office again.
Learn To Say “No”
Saying “yes” to things is often encouraged and many people will tell you that saying “yes” more often will lead to more possibilities and opportunities in your life. When this is applied to trying new things, meeting new people or stepping outside of your comfort zone it can be great advice.
However, saying “yes” all the time is not advisable. “No” can be a powerful word and is one that we could all learn to say a little more often. If you want to gain back more time in your personal life, start saying “no” a little more often at work, and stop taking on more than you can handle. You’ll find that in doing so, you’ll be able to start managing your own time more effectively, allowing you to reap the benefits that come alongside this positive change.
Strike A Work/Life Balance That Works For You
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to finding the right work/life balance. To find a solution that works for you, it’s important to begin by looking at your personal and professional goals so you know exactly how your time needs to be divided.
With a clear image of what you want from your time at home versus your time at work, you will be better able to determine what balance of personal and professional will help you to reach your goals in both of these respective facets of your life.