Your work-life balance may be suffering due to stress, but there are effective strategies to regain help you a healthier balance. One of the first steps in reducing stress is to develop a clear plan that focuses on restoring your work-life harmony. Begin with setting firm boundaries that prioritize your personal time. For example, make it a rule not to check work emails or respond to work-related notifications once your workday ends. This sounds like a simple idea, but many of my clients struggle with this important boundary. They commonly describe a fear of some (vague) trouble that they will get into, or that they’ll fall “too far behind” in their work.
After some honest exploration, most of them realize that their fears are not based in reality. It’s likely that they’ve developed a compulsion driven by anxiety. Reducing the anxiety and incrementally scaling back email viewing is the first step to dropping the perceived compulsion. This small change can help you mentally disconnect from the office and reclaim your personal time.
In some cases, this boundary-setting may require a difficult but essential conversation with your boss or colleagues to manage expectations regarding availability after hours. (This topic can be explored further in another discussion.) Once you have established these boundaries, the next step is to gradually incorporate self-care practices and activities that are fun and relaxing. Start small by engaging in hobbies, reading, or spending time with loved ones—whatever helps you unwind and recharge.
Additionally, it’s important to assess your social support system and family interactions. Strengthening the quality of your relationships can have a significant impact on your overall well-being and help reduce feelings of isolation or stress. While social interaction is important, please bear in mind that these contacts should be set up in a thoughtful manner; setting boundaries with family and friends is just as important as work related boundaries.
Make sure you’re also prioritizing physical health by ensuring that you get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and eat balanced meals.
Restoring your work-life balance doesn’t need to happen overnight. Take it one step at a time. By introducing small, manageable changes, you’ll gradually regain control of your life and significantly reduce stress over time.
The best to you.