The pressure of an increasingly demanding work culture in the UK is perhaps the biggest and most pressing challenge to the mental health of the general population. A healthy work life balance is key for a employees wellbeing.
More than 40% of employees are neglecting other aspects of their life because of work, which may increase their vulnerability to mental health problems.
Why is work life balance important?
Work-life balance is an important aspect of a healthy work environment to support a happy and productive lifestyle. Maintaining work-life balance helps reduce stress and prevent burnout in the workplace.
This blog will discuss five tactics to help maintain a healthy work life balance
1) Prioritising your time
2) Don’t be controlled by your email inbox
3) Leave work at work
4) Set your own rules and be realistic
5) Take responsibility for your own work life balance
1) Prioritising your time is essential for workplace productivity.
Try to work smart. Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of the time spent on specific activities to work smarter than harder! Improving time management at work allows enhancement of performance. Not practicing good time management can lead to procrastination, lack of focus, unwanted stress and strained workplace relationships. With only 24 hours in a day, time is one of the most valuable commodities available to humankind so managing it efficiently is paramount to a healthy life.
2) Don’t be controlled by your inbox.
We now work in a dangerously ‘constantly connected’ working environment which means it’s difficult to ever fully switch off. Not only outside of work but also during the working day. Having a time assigned for checking and replying to emails can be hugely resourceful as it ensures you aren’t constantly switching tasks.
3) Leave work at work.
Try to ensure that there is a line between work, and home life and leisure. Before you shut down for the day, leave a ‘to do’ list of tasks to complete for the following day and then switch off your PC, leaving your work in the office.
4) Set your own rules and be realistic.
At the end of each working day, perform a little self-analysis. Ask yourself what worked today, what didn’t, what went wrong and how the issue can be improved. Don’t forget to tap into the valuable resources around you – your peers and your managers – for help. Everyone needs a hand now and again.
5) Take responsibility for your own work life balance.
Make time for holidays and breaks, at least quarterly. This will provide opportunity for refocus to provide a better, perspective on your workload when you return.
Having a balanced amount of exercise, work, recreation and rest is essential to stay fully functional. Getting the right work-life balance is important for happiness, productivity and effectiveness at work. It is a preventive measure to ensure positive mental health.
DTM Legal can help by providing . . .
- Advice on contracts of employment & company policies such as sickness absence, well-being & stress management.
- Advice on reasonable adjustments & the impact of the Equality Act 2010.
- Guidance on flexible working arrangements.
- Advice on getting your recruitment and management processes
right to minimise the risk of discrimination claims.
For more information, please contact, head of employment and HR, Tom Evans: tom.evans@dtmlegal.com/ 0151 230 1217
