Work always seems to keep us busy, to the point where we find ourselves not having enough time for our personal lives. Yes, your job is important and you need to get things done, but your well-being and social life are as well. I know it’s easy to become distracted by your job, but you should also focus on spending time with yourself and those around you to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Now that most of us are working from home, separating work and life has become even more challenging. Here are some tips to help you lead a good work-life balance!
Tip #1: Take short breaks
We often get so caught up with work that we forget to sometimes slow down and take breaks. It’s important that you are taking some time throughout the day to stretch or just let your mind rest (e.g., walk away from your office a little bit). You might be sitting on a chair for hours upon hours just staring at a screen. Make sure that you are taking some time to stand up, walk around and breathe!
One technique that I recommend using is the Pomodoro Technique. I’m sure many of you have heard of or tried this technique before, but if you haven’t, definitely give it a go! This technique will help you manage your time well and it will remind you to take breaks. This will allow you to be more productive and feel less overwhelmed. If that wasn’t enough, there are also pomodoro timer apps available to make the process a little easier. Doesn’t that sound nice? Also, this approach can be used in any environment, not just your job.
Tip #2: Know when to disconnect from work
It’s easy for us to lose track of time when doing our work, especially since most of us are now working from home. Remember, you usually have standard work hours, whether you are working from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., there is a time for you to stop working. If you are working after hours multiple times a week, it can turn into a habit and get in the way of your personal life. To avoid working overtime each day, set a designated time for yourself to end work and disconnect. Here are some steps you can take to achieve this:
- Leave your workspace. When the workday is over, shut down your computer or laptop and remove yourself from your work area.
- Step away from technology. Chances are you have been staring at a screen all day long and when the workday is over you’ll stare at your phone or another screen. I know it’s very tempting to do this, but we need to give our eyes a break. Keep your device somewhere separate and do something that doesn’t require you to look at a screen.
- Make plans right after work. A good way to limit the number of hours you are working is to create a distraction for yourself. Ask a friend if they want to hang out, go shopping or do anything to get you away from what you’ve been doing for 8 hours.
Tip #3: It’s okay to say “no”
When someone asks for a favour or help with a project, we tend to never want to say “no” in fear of letting the other person down. But sometimes it’s the choice that we need to make for our well-being. If your plate is already full, communicate that to the person who’s asking for your help. The majority of the time they will understand. If you are saying “yes” to every single ask, you may find yourself backed up into a corner, stressed and having no time for anything else.
Of course, if you have the time and can help out, do lend a hand, challenge yourself and try going above and beyond. But not to the point where your back is about to break. I am someone who doesn’t like to say “no” to people. But, as I continue to grow, I realize that when I tell someone “no”, it’s not as bad as I would picture it to be. After all, we are human at the end of the day.
Tip #4: Spend time on a hobby or passion
A great way to get away from your job is to spend time on activities that you love and enjoy! Whether it be cooking, photography, reading a book, or playing sports, have some sort of leisure activity that will take your mind off work. It’s important to relax and re-energize yourself before starting another long day.
For example, after work I like to go on a walk outside with my mother. This gives my mind a break, lets my body move around after sitting down for half the day and I also get to catch up with my mom. If the weather is not great and I can’t go walking, I will change it up with maybe some baking or video editing. Pursue those hobbies/passions of yours and make it a priority to set aside time for them each day after work!
Tip #5: Don’t be afraid to seek help
The truth is we will all struggle in life and come across different challenges. The same goes for your job. There will be moments when you find yourself very overwhelmed and overly stressed. Many times we will choose to stay quiet and deal with these things alone. However, you should never feel scared to speak about your situation.
If your work is taking a huge toll on you, talk to your manager, a family member, a friend, a life coach or someone you trust. You never know what these types of conversations could lead to. A solution? An accommodation? Who knows! Taking this step can help lift a huge weight off your shoulders. There will be times when I choose to stay quiet about a struggle I may be going through, because I don’t want to make my problem anyone else’s or seem weak in front of others. I know it’s a little cliché, but honestly, I’ve come to realize that speaking about these encounters does truly help make things better.
The ball is now in your court
As Dolly Parton says, “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” The reality is that you are still living your life and there is more to it than just working a nine to five. I know it can be difficult to maintain a balance between your work and life and everyone is going to have their own way of doing it, but it is you who needs to figure out how you will do it. If you continue a pattern of just working all the time, it will soon get to you and have a negative impact on both your mental and physical health. Try out some of these tips, see what works best for you and make a difference in your life starting now!
About the author
Fatima Muni
Social Media Campaign Coordinator 
Fatima Muni is an Arts and Business co-op student at Waterloo and is currently completing her second co-op term at the University of Waterloo, as a Social Media Campaign Coordinator for Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE). One of the main projects she is working on this term is writing blogs for the Co-operative Education blog page. To date, she has written about helpful co-op tips and student co-op experiences, and continues to write more blogs to share information that can benefit other co-op students! Feel free to check out Fatima's LinkedIn.
References and further resources
14 Ways To Improve Work-Life Balance | GoSkills
How to have a good work-life balance (hint: it’s not just about time) (betterup.com)
Work-life balance: Tips to reclaim control - Mayo Clinic
4 ways to disconnect from work and recover from your day - RescueTime
The Pomodoro Technique — Why It Works & How To Do It (todoist.com)
How To Prevent Your Personal Problems From Taking A Toll On Your Work (forbes.com)
