How to Create a Work-Life Balance That Protects Against Burnout
Since each of us evolves and changes regularly, there is no singular way to strike the ideal work-life balance. It is an educational journey with no graduation ceremony. Even so, our quality of life can often depend on our willingness to regularly assess our own needs. If we don’t, we run a much higher risk of burnout.
Juggling family, personal needs, career, dreams, goals, and more — in the age of non-stop digital manipulation and influence — can lead to exhaustion. Burnout involves any combination of being physically, emotionally, and socially overwhelmed. Since the society we live in requires us to “earn a living,” creating a healthy work-life balance is vital.
Again, a Work-Life Balance Is an Ongoing Process
Each of us contains so many qualities, characteristics, tendencies, preferences, beliefs, values, etc. We play multiple roles in our own lives. Thus, it can be self-sabotaging to expect a 24/7 state of balance that never has to be tweaked. Different scenarios may require different approaches and, as always, everything is in flux. All that said, let’s take a look at some time-proven suggestions that are worth your consideration.
How to Create a Work-Life Balance That Protects Against Burnout
At Work
Aim for Flexibility: Things are shifting in workplaces — flex time, working remotely, etc. Talk to management about arranging your work situation in a way that maximizes your productivity on the job while offering you more overall balance elsewhere.
Be Efficient: Hone your organizational skills so you’re getting the most done with the least stress. This leaves time and energy for the other important aspects of your day.
Say No to Perfectionism: No one is perfect so replace that destructive tendency by setting reachable goals and resisting the urge to work longer hours than are needed.
At Home
Monitor Device Usage: Being more reachable can make it more likely that your job is with you all day long. Set and enforce boundaries to avoid this negative trend. Make the most of your non-work life by not using that time to stare at screens and scroll.
Avoid Perfectionism Here, Too: If you work hard and often, you can put pressure on yourself to use the rest of your days perfectly. To repeat, this is not possible and will ultimately increase the odds of burnout. Seek to find a healthy blend of activity and rest. If you need a litmus test, ask yourself what brings you joy. Seek out meaning in your choices, accept new challenges, and find time to bind with and help others.
Prioritize Self-Care: Take care of your needs by safeguarding habits like sleep, exercise, eating, and stress management. Carefully curate the content you welcome into your life. Your digital diet can have a massive impact. So, don’t leave self-care to chance. It must become a stalwart, non-negotiable part of every single day.
Where Is Your Work-Life Balance?
We can slide into patterns and habits without realizing it’s thrown our well-being out of whack. This is nothing to be ashamed of; we all do this from time to time. That’s why so many folks will consult with a skilled professional when they know something is “off” but it’s difficult to know what it is.
Working with a life coach therapist is an ideal way to gauge where imbalances exist in your daily life. From there, you have the opportunity to assess where change is needed and how to make it happen. With commitment, you can experience a sense of healthy harmony in your life. If that sounds appetizing right now, I’d love to connect with you and talk more about it. Let’s get you scheduled for a free and confidential consultation.