Find Your Healthy Work-Life Balance

When work deadlines loom, your in-box overflows, and you find yourself working longer – and later – hours, stress and anxiety can overtake your life. It can affect your physical and mental well-being, and even your relationships with others. Establishing a healthy work-life equilibrium allows you to both feel and function better.

Of course, it takes work. And time.

First, you need to determine whether your work is negatively affecting your personal life. If you are working more than 55 hours per week, you increase your risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke, when compared to people who work 35-40 hours weekly (according to the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization).

Other signs your work and personal lives are out of sync include: not taking care of your body, feeling incompetent and apathetic at work, disconnecting from friends and family, experiencing a decline in your mental health, and increasingly letting your professional work encroach on your personal time.

If you feel you need to regain a healthy work-life balance, try these tips:

• Establish separation and limits: Disconnect from work when you are at home. Turn off your phone or computer and save checking email for the following morning. Enjoy time with family and friends. Stepping away from work, physically and mentally, allows you to recalibrate, rejuvenate and be more productive when you are at work.

• Prioritize YOU: Cultivating self-care through consistent exercise, proper nutrition and ample sleep is not a luxury. It’s essential to maximizing your potential and enriching your life.

• Use your vacation days: If you don’t, nobody else will. Your vacation days are a benefit you must take advantage of – for your well-being and your relationships with others. And don’t underestimate staycations. They can be just as fun and relaxing – and far more affordable.

• Learn to say “no.” Have an open line of communication with your boss and be comfortable declining new projects or extra commitments that do not align with your job description.

• Be mindful: Maintain awareness of what you’re doing at any given moment. Take advantage of every minute, whether you are at home or at work.

• Focus, focus, focus: Prioritize your to-do list every day, and avoid anything – or anybody – that distracts you from achieving your goals.

Sometimes – often in a toxic work environment – you will find it difficult or impossible to attain a positive work-life balance. In this instance, you may consider looking for a new job. If your mental health is suffering, you may need to seek professional help. After all, you are worth it, and you owe it to yourself.