- Devanshi Sharma
Intern, July- August 2023
Managing work requirements while maintaining personal relationships can be a tough task for many. Professional life can often become the main priority but that often leads to us losing sight of everything else that is important to us in our personal lives. A work-life balance can be defined as the ideal situation where we equally prioritize work responsibilities as well as our family, health, relationships and well-being. The difficulties in successfully handling both can lead to dissatisfaction and stress for individuals. This can often cause burnout, a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that leads to troubles in performing everyday tasks. Burnout occurs when you feel drained and unable to meet the constant demands of life.
Burnout can lead to various changes in physical, emotional and mental health such as -
Feeling overwhelmed and stressed
Feeling less motivated
Frequent headaches, body aches
Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness
Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment
Withdrawing from people
Burnout can be prevented by incorporating a work-life balance. A work-life balance is important to maintain as it leads to satisfaction, contentment, happiness and more fulfilling lives.
Here are some tips on having a good work-life balance-
1. Set realistic goals
We are often likely to set unrealistic goals and deadlines for ourselves to attain better results but this can be counter-productive. Having big goals can feel overwhelming and lead to less-than-average efficiency. Therefore, it is important to have S.M.A.R.T. goals.
2. Normalize taking breaks
Hitting the pause button or taking time off for yourself can sometimes feel selfish but believe it or not it can lead to amazing results. Research has shown that taking breaks whilst working can not only increase efficiency but also motivate the person to go beyond.
3. Connect with loved ones
In the competitiveness of the modern world, we often forget to acknowledge and make time for the people in our lives. As humans, social belongingness is one of the main needs for us to feel happy. Hence, taking time to connect with our close ones shouldn't be overlooked.
4. Set your priorities
Start by making a list of your daily priorities. Often we give priority to our work and household chores, and then find ourselves with little time to do any of the things we enjoy doing. Think about what is important for you and try including it in your daily routine. This could be family time, exercise, hobbies or anything else that matters to you. It's time to start making time for yourself and the things that make you happy. After all, the more content you feel, the less stressed you will be.
5. Have Boundaries
Learn to say "no" when needed instead of trying to please people by accepting responsibilities on their behalf. Declining a request can feel like a difficult task but the sooner you learn to set your boundaries straight, the less hurt you will be in the future.
6. Prioritize your health
Eating three meals a day, sleeping for eight hours, and exercising regularly can help prevent burnout. Make your health a priority.
You don't have to try to achieve everything in one day. Start slow but steady. Only you can determine what a work-life balance means for you. Try to find your balance and stick to a routine which works best for you.
A much needed blog! ❤️✨