Having a healthy work-life balance is important to being an effective employee and staying productive over time. By focusing too much on work–in a way that cuts into personal time or creates a lot of undue stress–employees are more likely to burn out. This can have a negative impact on employee morale, company culture, and your bottom line.
Managers should focus on facilitating and maintaining a good work/life balance in their team. This will help keep employees happy–and ensure that they stay happy. Keep the following tips in mind to help create and sustain balance throughout your company.
Leave Work at Work
One of the biggest problems in the digital age is that we are too connected. It is important to have separation from one’s personal and professional life. By doing so, we are able to take the time necessary in order to recharge and come into work refreshed and mentally prepared to take on new challenges. By doing so, employees are able to approach projects with a fresh perspective, see and take advantage of opportunities, and better collaborate with their colleagues.
With this in mind, managers should start to enforce vacation days that are–in fact–actually vacation days. This means that employees are not constantly checking emails or dialing into calls. Encourage your team members to live in the moment, which means giving their full attention to the task in front of them, whether that is a new proposal or their kid’s piano recital.
Take Regularly Scheduled Breaks
A typical employee can only be productive for a few hours at a time before needing a mental break. It might be difficult to remember to separate yourself from work–especially when you are in a high-paced, high-stress environment–but doing so is essential. To help keep your mind fresh, eat lunch away from your desk, and–when possible–take your meetings out of the office. After all, new environments can spur creative thinking and keep morale high.
Consider Mind, Body, and Spirit
When thinking about the “life” part of “work-life balance,” you need to be focusing on the full self. This does not mean only eating salads or spending an hour at the gym every day. Start by taking a walk each afternoon and limiting your snacks during the day.
You also need to nurture your spiritual self. Mental breaks are just as important as physical ones. Take the time and make the effort to really “check in” with yourself. If you start to feel overwhelmed, take a step back. Consciously relax the muscles in your body, and be aware of the triggers that has made you tense. Then, seek to reduce these negative influences. When you listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs.
Reinstate Balance in Your Life
It is important to make time for both your home and your work life. Trying to do everything at once is a surefire way to become overwhelmed and ensure that nothing is done to the best of your ability. While it may seem counterintuitive, employees need time away from the office if they are going to produce their best work–and continue to produce their best work for years to come.
Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash