When tomorrow’s work is already looming over you, it can be hard to separate work from pleasure. But focusing on work when you aren’t working will only cause you more stress. Here are a few sure-fire ways to keep your thoughts off work and on your family, friends, and especially you.
How an Unbalanced Work Life Can Affect Your Life
Health Issues
Stress can cause major problems in the body, like anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.
Fatigue
Fatigue can cause productivity issues at work and if your quality of work decreases, the amount of work you complete will decrease as well.
Lost Time with Loved Ones
If you have less energy and if you spend more time at work, you will be less likely to spend time with your family and friends.
What You Can Do to Actually Clock Out at the End of the Day
Keep your work in a different part of the house
When you work from home, a good way to separate work from pleasure is to keep work in one room, like a home office, and the rest of the house is dedicated to family, relaxation, or yourself. This makes sure that when you are in the rest of your house, you are not reminded of the things you have to do the next day and can focus on other things.
Turn off your work notifications
If you do work at an office outside of your home, an excellent way to stay clocked out of work is to snooze your work email and other applications that you use for work. This keeps your mind off of work and makes sure you don’t have to worry about things you need to do the next day.
Set goals for your time management
When working an hourly job, you clock in and out at a specific time everyday, so you have a limited time to get things done. When completing tasks, make sure to set goals of when and how you would like to complete them, so you are able to leave work on time. Overtime is needed in certain situations, but you shouldn’t take on extra work if your mental and physical health are taking a toll. Always leave work on time so you have all the time you need to relax at home.
Saying no
If you are already overwhelmed or don’t have the time to complete the tasks you have lined up, don’t say yes to something that will add to your workload. This will cause you more stress at work and at home.
We know that work/life balance is a hard undertaking for anybody to manage, but these tips will help you disconnect from work at the end of the day and decrease your chances of negatively affecting your physical and mental health. As Hilary Clinton once said, “Don’t confuse having a career with having a life.”
