In today’s fast-paced world, finding a healthy work-life balance can be a challenge. The demands of work, family, and personal responsibilities can leave us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. However, prioritizing our mental health is crucial to our overall wellbeing and quality of life.
A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health found that individuals who reported a better work-life balance experienced lower levels of stress, improved mental health, and increased job satisfaction. On the other hand, those who struggled to balance the lines between work and their personal lives were more likely to experience burnout, fatigue, and decreased overall well-being. Over the last year, this has contributed to what we know as quiet quitting. In this blog, we explore the importance of creating a balance between our professional and personal lives and discuss different ways we can better support and prioritize our mental health.
"It’s important to create a healthy work-life balance that allows you to recharge and rejuvenate."
Set Boundaries:
Establish clear boundaries between your work and personal life. With today’s remote and hybrid working landscape, the divide between our personal and professional time has become come blurry. Avoid checking work emails or taking work-related calls during your personal time and outside of working hours. It’s important to create a healthy work-life balance that allows you to recharge and rejuvenate.
Practice Self-Care:
Self-care is crucial for maintaining good mental health. It involves taking intentional actions to prioritize one’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Employees can practice self-care in the workplace by taking regular breaks, engaging in physical activities like stretching or walking, and staying hydrated. Research has shown that taking short breaks throughout the workday can improve productivity and reduce stress levels. Additionally, engaging in physical activities releases endorphins, which are known as “feel-good” hormones that can help boost your mood and alleviate stress.
Set Realistic Goals & Manage Workload:
Employees can set realistic goals by understanding their job responsibilities, prioritizing tasks, and communicating with their supervisors about workload concerns. It’s crucial to have open and honest conversations with your supervisor about your workload to prevent becoming overwhelmed. Additionally, employees can practice time management techniques, such as breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, prioritizing tasks, and delegating when necessary. Blocking time in your calendar for pressing tasks or using your organization’s project management tools can be extremely helpful in keeping you organized.
Practice Mindfulness:
Mindfulness is a technique that involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Employees can practice mindfulness by taking short breaks for deep breathing exercises and practicing meditation excercises. Research has shown that implementing mindfulness techniques not only reduces stress, but can increase your cognitive flexibility and improve emotional regulation.
Use Your Vacation Time: The culture of constant hustling can push employees to exhaustion and lead to decreased motivation, performance issues, and leave us experiencing burn out. It’s essential to take advantage of your vacation time to enjoy activities that bring you joy and spend quality time with your loved ones.
Seek Support:
It’s essential for employees to seek support when they are facing challenges. Seeking support can involve talking to a close friend or family member, confiding in a supervisor, or seeking professional help from a mental health provider. It’s important to remember that seeking support is not a sign of weakness, but rather a proactive step towards taking care of one’s mental health. Research has shown that employees who receive support from their workplace for mental health concerns are more likely to stay engaged, satisfied, and productive in their jobs.
Employers are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental health support in the workplace and offering resources such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and other mental health resources. If you’re a TouchCare member interested in what mental wellness benefits your work-sponsored plan might have to offer, click here.
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