Finding the right balance between work and social life can have a drastic impact on your general well-being and happiness. Even if you love what you do for a living, everyone needs some time away from work and all the stress it tends to come with. Here are few things to keep in mind when you find yourself swallowed up by work.
1. Make time for yourself.
You might not have the energy to see anyone or do anything after work. And that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a relaxed night at home after a long day. It doesn’t make you boring or lazy or a bad friend. We all need time to ourselves, time to do whatever we want without any demands placed on us. This time can mean an hour of watching TV without your SO or roommates bothering you, the entire evening with a good book or even just half an hour of meditation before going to sleep.
2. Make time for your friends.
The older you get, the harder it is to find the time to see your friends. In university, you can see your friends in class and for lunch. You can even see them before or after class due to a fairly relaxed schedule. However, working from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. takes a lot of time and energy and most likely you have a pile of house work waiting for you at home. Nonetheless, making the time to see your friends can bring a huge boost to your happiness, even if it’s only for a quick lunch or a cup of coffee after work. Friends can also help in sharing work related worries that might be dragging you down and that you might not wish to divulge to your colleagues.
3. Exercise and sleep well.
Exercise and a decent amount of sleep are the corner stones of feeling healthy and happy. A person can function while sleep deprived but your focus is off and you might forget things if you haven’t slept enough. Exercise will also not only boost your body’s health but also affect the way you sleep. Even just a quick walk outside before going to bed can help you fall asleep easier and sleep without any undue restlessness.
4. Don’t take work home.
You might love your job but everyone needs time away from work. Taking your work home, even if you tell yourself you’ll only finish that one task from earlier, blurs the lines between work life and home life and can turn into an unhealthy habit. Most jobs have work hours for a reason. Even if you work from home, you should set boundaries between the hours you intend to work and your free time.
5. Take a break from social media and electronics.
While most of us deal with various social media accounts and check out our phones and computers numerous times a day, it’s good to take a break and set some boundaries. It can be a relief to leave your phone at home during a walk outside or putting it on silent while enjoying a good book. Especially if you get work emails on your phone, try not to check them on your free time.
6. Eat regularly and eat healthy.
It might be tempting to skip breakfast before work or only have a quick bite of some takeout for lunch, but taking the time to eat regular, healthy meals will improve your energy levels and give your that boost you might be trying to find from that pot of coffee you have to chug before waking up properly.
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