Achieve a healthy balance
Balancing the demands of your career and your personal life can be challenging. Your roles might include being a spouse, parent, child, sibling, employee, organization member or neighbor. While these responsibilities can be incredibly rewarding, they can also lead to stress. Trying to “do it all” and forgetting to take time for yourself can lead to a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion known as burnout.
Burnout is more than stress, and if left unaddressed, it can lead to health complications, such as depression or cardiovascular disease. Maintaining a healthy balance not only helps prevent burnout but can also improve your sleep, productivity levels and overall quality of life. Avoid obligation overload and achieve a better life balance with a few of the following tips.
Make a list. Having a plan can help you stay focused and prioritize what’s important. Try writing out tomorrow’s tasks the night before, putting events on a calendar and keeping your to-do list somewhere visible while you work. Don’t forget to incorporate self-care into your plan.
Simplify. Letting things go from time to time is essential to living a balanced life and staying resilient during times of stress. When you take on too many responsibilities, burnout can set in. Identify what has less impact on your life and allow yourself to cut some things out. For example, you might decline a dinner invitation to instead clean the house, depending on what is more important or necessary at the time.
Set boundaries. Healthy limits can help you stay organized, lower stress levels and avoid overworking. While adding tasks to your calendar makes you feel more productive, this can eventually lead to burnout and slow your progress. Practice saying no when your plate is full, sticking to your planned breaks and delegating tasks where possible.
Take breaks. A key component of a balanced life is prioritizing rest. Relaxation and self-care are just as important as working hard. Whether you like to exercise, connect with your loved ones or go outside to enjoy nature, having time to yourself can help improve your mental health and wellbeing.
Seek support. It’s OK to ask for help. Reach out to trusted loved ones for advice or assistance with tasks to help you balance competing responsibilities. However, if burnout interferes with your daily life, it might be time to seek guidance from a mental health professional. Counseling can help you discover the root of the concern and work toward healing with healthy coping strategies and other techniques.
For support and guidance with everyday wellbeing concerns, contact your EAP today.