With the evolution of technology and being able to be in contact with everyone all the time no matter where you are, it has changed the way we live our lives. This is especially true when it comes to work. Sometimes, the work day may never truly end. People are no longer working 9 to 5, or 40 hours a week. One poll showed that Americans work on average 47 hours a week, with some industries clocking in well over that – even up to 60 hours a week. This doesn’t leave much room for balance in your life.
Overworking yourself and being constantly available can have a serious effect on your health. It can increase your stress levels and lead to feelings of anxiousness and even depression. Being constantly on the go and working can also not leave much time for taking care of yourself such as exercising or cooking healthy and nutritious meals. Here are some tips for creating a better work-life balance.
Take Care Of Your Health
Your health is where it all starts. If you are not functioning at your best, not only will you not be able to perform at your best at work, but it can make dealing with stress that much more difficult. Fortunately, today there are a lot of easy ways to stay healthy when your life is a little crazy. Taking a supplement is a great first step to make sure your body is getting everything it needs. A turmeric or omega-3 supplement is great for boosting your health and brain power, keeping you sharp and functioning at your best. Research Verified reviews are a great place to start when it comes to knowing what to look for when it comes to choosing a supplement.
Eat Well
As mentioned above, your health is where it begins. Eating correctly will help you have the energy to get through your day and to focus on your tasks at hand. If you are only eating processed food, you will feel this in your energy levels. Make sure to include enough protein in your diet as this is the building block of the cells in our body so we need it to be able to function at our best. Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables are a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Finding the time to actually prepare healthy food can be difficult when you are working long hours, so the best way to do this is to meal plan. Spend some time one day week planning your meals for the week (or month) ahead, and then shop accordingly. To save cooking time, spend a few hours over the weekend cooking bulk meals which you can freeze in serving portions and take out as needed.
Workout
Exercise is fantastic for both your physical health and your mental health. When we exercise, our body releases endorphins which help to feel good which is great for destressing. You should make sure to find time to workout, even if it means scheduling it into your calendar. It is also important to find ways to get physical activity into your life to counteract the negative effects of sitting at your desk all day.
Switch Off
When it comes to being constantly available around the clock, the constant ping of your phone can have an impact on your downtime and also your relationships. Try to make a rule of certain times when your phone will be switched off so you won’t be tempted to answer that email or phone call. This will allow you to connect and bond with your loved ones or spend some much needed time by yourself.
Learn To Say No
There really is only so much we can do. The reality is that there are only 24 hours in a day, and some of that time you really do need to sleep (see below). So when you think committing to something is just more than you can take on right now, either at work or in your personal life, just say no. You don’t want to become too overwhelmed with life and stop enjoying everything. When you are constantly stressed and are finding no enjoyment in what you are doing, you know you are taking on too much.
Get Enough Sleep
When working insanely long work weeks, this is one area of your life which is probably lacking. Going to bed late and waking up early could mean you are not meeting the recommended amount of 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. It is all too easy to stay up late after all the work is done, a house is clean, and to finally get some “me” time. But don’t waste away your time doing mindless activities such as scrolling Facebook. It is important to find other ways to get this alone time without letting your sleep suffer. How you function during the day is directly related to how you sleep at night, so make it count. Being constantly tired can also make dealing with stress and a high volume of tasks that much more stressful and difficult.
