Finding A Healthy Work/Life Balance!
Happy Wednesday friends! I hope your week has been lovely so far. I’m cruising along after having had a great start to my week. Today, I wanted to pop in and talk a bit about finding a healthy work/life balance. While I know that this means something different to everyone, I wanted to share a bit of my daily life and offer a few tips which may be beneficial to you!
I work in the construction industry which means work is happening whenever the sun is in the sky. I’m salary which mean that as much as I lie to myself and say I have set work hours, I truly don’t. There have been moments where I’ve been volunteering in the middle of a race and cheering on friends while taking “bathroom” breaks to handle the mass chaos that was happening on a jobsite. If I don’t find times to turn it off, work can drive me absolutely bananas. That’s where I made a deal with myself (and my husband) to find a balance and be okay with putting work in the backseat for a little bit. Here is how I do it.
Tip #1: Define A Schedule
Like I said, this can get tricky with my job however, it doesn’t flood my thoughts as soon as I wake up. I have set my phone on a “Do Not Disturb” schedule and I do my best to follow it. My coworker knows that unless it’s an absolute emergency (or he calls three times to trigger the exception) it can wait. Giving myself time in the mornings and evening to not even THINK about work is a major help and helps to mentally prepare me for the day. Taking care of myself and scheduling the time for that is extremely helpful and keeps me from feeling overwhelmed.
Tip #2: Start/End The Day With Joy
This can be tailored to you if you’re a morning person or an evening person. Whichever you are, set that time aside for YOU! Do not answer emails or even think about work then. Use that time to take care of yourself and do things that make you happy. Kick your feet up and watch Netflix. Spend some time on the treadmill or walk your pup in the morning. Little things that disconnect you from that part of your day are best because you can enjoy yourself!
Tip #3: Take A Break
This can look different depending on your situation but if you are able to take a vacation, do it! Even if you don’t necessarily go anywhere, if you have paid time off, stay home and get some rest. Sometimes that all you need to get our of a rut. Our society saves us vacation days like it’s something to brag about and we never use them! If you don’t have the option to take paid time off, make the best of your days off. Go for a drive, do something different, enjoy yourself. Yes, I know errands and chores need to be done but see if you can get a day to pamper yourself. Taking time to treat yourself like this will help you return to work refreshed!
What is your work/life balance like? Do you have any other tips to help other find a balance?
