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Do you have a healthy work-life balance?

Published on: 28 Oct 2016

When was the last time you had a break from work? If, like the majority of us, you are constantly checking your emails, in and out of the office, you never really turn off. Technology means we are always connected, sometimes obsessively checking emails even when unnecessary. Studies have discovered that some employees end up cancelling out their entire annual leave given the extra work done online at home. [1] 

A healthy work-life balance is something that we all strive to achieve, however, in the 21st century it seems to be one of the hardest things to accomplish.  The recent celebration of World Mental Health Day (10th October), really puts into perspective how important it is for us to get this balance right. The pressure of an increasingly demanding work culture is possibly the biggest and most persistent challenge to the mental health of our population.  

A recent Mental Health Foundation survey found nearly two thirds of employees have experienced a negative effect on their personal life, including lack of personal development, physical and mental health problems, poor relationships and poor home life. [2] So, how do we stop this from happening?

As everyone’s priorities in life change, there is no clear definition of a healthy work-life balance, it is different for each person. Once you have established your work-life balance, it’s vital you keep to it whenever possible. Here are some simple tips you can follow to help you achieve the best work-life balance for you. 

-    Set realistic and achievable boundaries between work and leisure. If you have to work from home, keep it to one room and away from areas you choose to relax, especially the bedroom. 
-    Make sure you take a proper break at work, sometimes eating lunch at your desk is not good enough. Try to get out of your workplace at least once a day. 
-    Prioritisation is key. Set time frames for each task to reduce the number of late nights in the office each week. Your desk is for working, not sleeping!
-    Schedule in weekly leisure activities. Exercise is the best way to switch off from work and reduce stress, failing that, a glass of wine with friends will also work! 

If you are looking for a better work-life balance and think a new role is the way forward, please check out our latest jobs.

Grace Tedstone - Office Manager at Tiger Recruitment

Tiger

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2016/oct/11/way-to-better-work-life-balance-unions-not-self-help
[2] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/w/work-life-balance