Happy Monday! It always seems like a task to balance anything. Balancing a checkbook, weight loss, health initiatives, and work-life becomes tedious to do! So with that being said, how exactly do we make it happen? Learning to take a few breaks!
Learning to Not be a Workaholic
Yes you have to unlearn unhealthy ways of thinking and living. We have been conditioned to work and not use all of our personal or vacation time. If we work harder than anyone else around us we will be rewarded with increase and promotions. Sometimes you get what you put into it and often times you don’t. A valuable lesson in balancing work-life is remembering that if something happened to you, they will replace you and move ahead. Take your time away, the job will survive!
Work Smarter Not Harder
It takes a while to implement new ideologies but it’s necessary that we stop overworking. If there’s an easier and efficient way of getting something done-do it. The stress of keeping up with everyone and everything at work is you’re going to hit burn out quicker. If your attitude is strained and you keep an updated letter of resignation in your phone or laptop ready to turn in, you need to either find a new job, new career, work differently, or take some time off. Burn out can come off as irritation. Coming to work unhappy everyday and the issue is the job, signals a break or a job breakup!
Taking Time Off is Necessary
It’s important to take time off. If you have vacation time and your job or better yet a manager gives you an issue, it’s time to go to HR. You are entitled to take time off. We all need to reset every now and again. You may have to find the right time to take off but taking off should always be your focus. If you’re at your job and doing it well you will get burned out quickly. I know some who don’t like the notion of taking a week or more off, I would suggest taking a few days at a time.
Burn out is Real
People claim they understand the concept of burn out but do very little to avoid it. If you’re not taking breaks, not making sure that you’re job is either aligning with your purpose or financing your purpose it may mean you need to change. I’ve worked at jobs that I didn’t like. I used it to finance my passions or my purpose. Working hard until I didn’t have to work a traditional job and work for myself is my personal desire. It may be yours too but you’re going to have to plan for it! Work smarter to save money, and do the things that will get you to the end result.
If you allow yourself to get sick because you won’t take a break you are of no service to you or anyone else around you. You can get sick behind stress. Your mental health can be neglected if you’re experiencing burnout. It usually doesn’t stop at your job-you will bring that stress home! Now you’re family pays the price of you not willing to manage time off.
Work from Home Burn Out
Isn’t it interesting that a lot of jobs who couldn’t accommodate working from home for so many who need it sure found a way when the pandemic happened? So now that you’re home working for those who are still working from home you can burn out too! For example Zoom overload, jobs are increasing meetings, and now demands of home life are happening in the background too. Although the perks of being home outweigh the negatives, you still need to balance life.
- Set a hard stop for hours working
- Try to physically separate work from home
- Checks and balances are necessary
- No work on the weekend or after dinner
- Make family time or personal time as important as a meeting
- Schedule down time or take a break
- Get out of the house or take a walk while at work
Whatever you do don’t feel an ounce of guilt as you use your allotted time. Unless of an emergency, don’t take calls from work when you’re not at work. Make everyone aware that you’re time is your time. Unless you’re on call, people will do what you allow. Set a standard and follow through. The more distinct you are with your job the more they will get the hint!
So take the vacation. Take the time away. Your job is necessary but it can’t be the only thing going on in your world. Even if you’re working the best job, or operating in your passion, breaks are still needed! So as we go into the Summer months, let’s plan something. It can be a staycation, vacation, solo trip or just time to do your favorite things at home-do it!
