Work plays a significant part in all of our lives, and work life balance is something which is constantly evolving overtime. With new working arrangements in play, what was once called going to work is now called working from home, or working remotely.
Not to fear, Life doesn’t have to be difficult working from home. In this article we will outline the importance of a healthy work life balance, taking care of your mental health in the process.
By @Sharnade George Celebrity Psychotherapist
If you are feeling stressed, unmotivated, anxious or uncertain due to work, you are not alone, but you may need to take a step back and think about how this is affecting you. Being mentally healthy at work is crucial for both employees and employers. Stress, depression and anxiety rank largest for absence in the workplace, with mental health problems in the UK costing employers £35 billion in 2018, and with the rise of mental health concerns, this is likely to have already increased.
The amount of time you focus on your work versus other aspects of your life, is an important aspect to healthy working environments, your lifestyle and overall health, which is different for everyone. The increasing effect of working long hours can cause a knock-on effect at home causing family strain and struggles, exhaustion, lack of concentration, interest and motivation. This can all link to stress which is the number one cause of most mental and physical health concerns, so why is it important to create a healthy work-life balance?
Burnouts
Burnout is very common for people who don’t have healthy boundaries related to work, which occurs when you feel over worked, overwhelmed and unable to meet work demands as a result. Struggling to cope with workplace stress can result in poor performance, exhaustion, reduced creativity along with mental and physical strain.
Stress
Too much stress can cause significant difficulties such as; sleep loss, irritability, headaches, high blood pressure, along with unwanted emotions. This can have an impact on your emotional and psychological wellbeing, you may start to doubt yourself and your capabilities at work thinking your stress is a result of not being good enough in your role, which can trigger conflicting unwanted emotions self-doubt and low self-esteem.
Productivity And Motivation Levels
A healthy work life balance will increase your engagement levels and performance at work, you will most likely feel more energised and creative within your role, which will help express yourself more and come up with new ideas. Feeling and being more productive at work, gives people a sense of relief and helps them feel valued in their company. This is as important for employers as it is employees, in order to prosper as individuals and businesses.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a basic human ability to be fully present and aware of the present moment, research has shown that mindfulness helps with stress release and helps improve mood. When you have a healthy work life balance which works for you, you will feel more focused at work, on your task and duties, as opposed to being stressed and overwhelmed by all you have to. Having unhealthy boundaries at work could lead to you ruminating on past mistakes or feeling anxious about future events related to work.
If you are someone who is experiencing difficulties with your work life balance, and would like to know how you can develop a healthier routine, here are some suggestions;
Understand what works for you and identify your values at work.
Communicate if you are struggling at work and need extra support.
Know your triggers - notice when you’re not feeling like your normal self and potentially need some time out to take care of how you’re feeling.
Find a routine to help you stay focused and motivated.
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