Achieving a healthy work-life balance has always been important — but in 2020, it’s a more difficult task than ever. Many of us are working from home, which blurs the separation between “work mode” and “home mode,” making us feel like we’re never off the clock. And during work hours, we’re often worrying about what’s going on in the world outside or how our families are doing, a stressful and time-consuming mental game that’s affecting our performance at work. With the weather getting colder and the pandemic worsening, it’s difficult to avoid extremes — whether it’s throwing yourself into work or running yourself ragged trying to keep up at home! Managing your time between work and your home life has always been a tricky balancing act; add a pandemic, and it’s a formidable task.
Luckily, there are tools and practices each one of us can use to make this balancing act easier. According to experts, the key is to start by honestly evaluating how our lives have looked during this time. You’ll probably come to the conclusion that a lot has changed since last year. Acknowledging this will allow you to take time for yourself and recharge your batteries which can look different to everyone. Perhaps it’s taking a hot bubble bath or watching your favorite show.
Practicing mindfulness is another way to improve your work-life balance. You can incorporate mindfulness into your daily schedule by setting aside time to meditate, do a yoga session or journal. All of these practices are proven to help you with feeling more present which is crucial in managing your work, family and personal life.
Most importantly, learn how to set healthy boundaries. Saying “no” is actually crucial to protecting our mental health and our overall energy. It will allow you to end your work day on time, take “me-time” when you feel like you need it and distance yourself from experiences and people that don’t serve you.
The visual by Zolo that you can find below is a collection of practical and actionable tips from therapists, social workers, lifestyle coaches and wellness professionals. Check out all their tips to manage work, family and time for yourself.
