Many of us could do almost anything to crush our career goals and boost productivity. But, as you have probably heard many times, sometimes less is more. It might seem nonsense that spending less time at work is more productive, not obsessing over doing everything perfectly, and not giving yourself enough time to breathe and take some time to do other things.
But, as counterproductive as it may seem, achieving a healthy work-life balance is key to thriving in your life as a whole, not just career-wise. All of us human beings have a certain capacity; some more than others.
When we push ourselves beyond our capacity, we experience burnout – which even if you keep pushing, you won’t be able to perform your best. Therefore, knowing how to set work boundaries, take some time off, consider your workload, and not equate success with how hard you work is essential for your wellbeing – and productivity.
Before we get into 10 ways to rejuvenate your work-life balance, know that achieving a perfect work-life balance is a subjective matter – it looks different to everyone. As mentioned, our capacities are different; some might tolerate more than others, and some might need more frequent breaks (and it doesn’t make anyone better than the other, it’s how every person functions).
What’s important is that you find a suitable work-life balance for you to feel refreshed, productive, and excited to work towards your career goals. Keep reading to know the 10 ways to rejuvenate your work-life balance, of course, without harming your career.
Learn how to say “no” without being disrespectful
Communication in the workplace looks different than communication outside because every word counts. The way you communicate your boundaries to your coworkers and managers says a lot about you and impacts how they’ll treat you. We have all struggled with saying no to taking on extra work and being the ‘hardest worker in the room’.
We have all accepted tasks we didn’t want to accept – even outside our work duties because it makes you the perfect candidate, right? Wrong. Pleasing everyone at work will cost you a lot, and won’t get you as far as you think it would. Although it won’t do you harm to help someone every now and then, being clear on your work boundaries is essential for your mental health and for producing quality work, instead of trying to take on a tremendous amount of workload.
Ditch being a perfectionist
All of us want to do everything perfectly at all times, but how realistic is this? Remember that in the end, we’re human beings, human error is completely normal, even for the highest achievers out there. Putting stress on yourself to do everything perfectly will result is counterproductive because it makes mundane tasks much harder than they have to be.
So, let go of the perfectionist you are, allow yourself to make mistakes – not deliberately – but don’t be hard on yourself when you make mistakes because it’s normal. In fact, as cliche as it may sound, mistakes teach us valuable lessons. So, understand that you can be absolutely incredible at your job, and still make mistakes.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate workload
When you start a job, there are predefined working hours you stick to. Somedays, you find yourself staying at work longer than these working hours. But, if these days are starting to get more frequent or there are unrealistic deadlines, it’s time for a meeting with your manager.
If you’re sure that your workload is unattainable during your working hours, set a meeting with your manager and pitch them into your work schedule. Let them know the time needed to complete certain tasks, ask them to prioritize important tasks so that they fit into your working hours, or maybe suggest delegating tasks you don’t have to do yourself.
Take your paid time off (PTO)
We’re finding it unusually common that people are treating how long they go to work without taking vacations as a badge of honor. Especially in toxic work environments, you’ll find that your coworkers don’t take their paid time off which leaves you feeling guilty or embarrassed to ask for it when it’s completely your right.
PTO is part of your work, and there’s no shame in taking them all, even if you don’t have an important occasion, or if you’re feeling sick. Let go of the hustle mentality and instead, understand your rights. Give your leisure time the same importance you give your work time. Taking some time off will result in more productivity at work because you’re well-rested, happier, more relaxed, and feel like you’re respecting yourself and your needs.
Give the same respect you want to receive
If you’re someone who constantly calls your coworkers after working hours, don’t expect them to respect your boundaries – this applies to any boundary, not just the no-work calls after working hours one. As mentioned, we all have different capacities and different ways in which we cope with our workload, and respecting your coworkers’ ways of working – and hence, boundaries, will help them give their best, and reciprocate the respect.
Even if it’s uncommon to respect each others’ boundaries in your workplace, start with yourself. It will encourage others to do so and leave a positive impact on the place you work in. if you’re friendly and your coworker prefers dealing with you formally, be formal and professional with them. If they prefer not being involved in unimportant meetings or work events, don’t involve them. Respect their boundaries, and they will respect yours.
Your health comes first
Taking care of your health is the golden rule in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Sometimes we – myself included – tend to skip important doctor appointments, workouts, or push ourselves when we’re feeling under the blue for work. It’s important that you don’t put more load on yourself than you can handle.
Neglecting your health for work will backfire because it leads to less focus, feeling fatigued, and overall less productivity. Reshape your mind that it’s not black or white. You can be an overachiever and be on top of your health – it depends on how you manage your time and speak up when you need to. Invest time in your health to maintain a healthy work-life balance without burning yourself out.
Treat your self-care time with the same importance you treat your work obligations
One day I was thinking about how we always manage to make the time for sudden or ‘urgent’ meetings even if our days are packed with a hundred different things. But when it comes to working meetings and obligations, we leave everything aside. Why are meetings more important than other appointments we make to take care of ourselves, even if it’s a simple mani-pedi appointment?
Being unable to prioritize ourselves the same way we prioritize our work is basically a recipe for disaster. Stay committed to the time you made for yourself, even if you don’t see it as important as the work meeting (if it’s not really an urgent one). The easiest thing to do shouldn’t be to give up your self-care time, no matter what self-care looks like for you. Invest time in yourself to show up as your best self in work, outside of work, and with yourself.
Take small breaks during working hours
When the day is packed with things to do at work, the last thing you think you should do is take a break. Some of us don’t even consider breaks until our plates are completely empty – which might seem like a good thing when it’s the complete opposite.
Taking breaks during work has been proven to rejuvenate your focus and boost productivity. It doesn’t have to be an hour – it could be anything simple from walking around your office for a few minutes, taking some deep breaths, or grabbing a cup of coffee.