Finding your way to a guilt free work-life balance

Studies show that balancing work and personal life is good for more than just your mental and physical health; it also increases your productivity and happiness. However, peer pressure, presenteeism and the sheer demands of work can lead to feelings of guilt both at home and at work.

There is no doubt that hard work pays off in the end, but it's important to keep in mind that burnout is bad for your mental and physical health and can be a result of working too much.

Negative health effects, lasting decades after the fact, may result from a lack of work-life balance in midlife, according to a recent study.

While it's true that working too much can have negative consequences, there are upsides of working efficiently so that you can relax guilt-free when the workday is over. The point is to stop focusing on the destination and start measuring success by the path you take.

A better work-life balance is associated with increased productivity, according to the research. People are less likely to slack off, put in extra effort, and even become brand champions when they are not overburdened with work.

Having a healthy work-life balance also contributes to your happiness. Researchers have found that eudemonic happiness, the happiness that is brought about by having purpose, can be a result of working hard and reaching one's professional goals. Conversely, hedonic happiness, defined as positive emotions like cheerfulness, can be pursued during leisure time.

Striking this balance requires a number of practices, including setting reasonable goals, being honest with co-workers, breaking down large projects into smaller ones, and taking breaks to recharge.

Much has been written about time management and productivity, so I am going to avoid re-treading that old ground here. Instead, I will focus on the things we tend to spend less time thinking about that can make a real difference.

Strive for progress over perfection.

Be a good-enough parent, partner, or employee rather than a perfect one; the key is to accept that you are good enough. You should establish limits and priorities in your life.

Acknowledging your workload, assigning responsibilities, and creating a structured schedule are all part of this. Integral to maintaining a healthy work-life balance is prioritising self-care.

Having a packed social schedule, a set exercise routine, or weekly relaxation rituals can all help with stress management. Sometimes taking brief breaks is the most effective way to get more done. Some examples of this would be getting up and moving around the office, going for a stroll, or focusing on a favourite pastime.

Learn to set boundaries and master the art of declining.

Not every request or assignment requires an immediate yes. To keep your workload in check, practise saying "no" to things that aren't essential.

With the rise of electronic communication, it is easier than ever to mix work and personal life in today's offices. In order to maintain your health and productivity, it is essential that you learn to establish limits with your co-workers.

Express When You Are Available.

The first step is to be upfront about your availability for work-related discussions. Even if you're working remotely, it's important to establish regular "office hours" and communicate to your team that you won't be available to answer emails or messages after a particular time in the evening.

Tell your co-workers exactly when you'll be working. This makes sure that everyone is thinking along the same lines and can anticipate what to expect. Use a shared calendar or other tool to block out times when you won't be available. By using this visual indicator, you can avoid interruptions that aren't necessary.

Give your team an idea of how long it will be until they hear back from you during business hours, and explain what happens when they try to reach you outside of those times.

Respecting your own boundaries is more difficult than setting them. Responding to emails at midnight gives the impression that you're available at all times. Keep to the limits you've established.

Make it a habit to close your laptop or disable notifications when you finish your workday. This will let your co-workers and you know that it's time to wrap things up. Making boundaries does not imply you aren't dedicated to your job, so make sure your co-workers know that. The key is to work smarter, not harder. Explain to your team how setting limits helps everyone stay on task and avoids burnout.

This may sound too good to be true and you might have read this and be thinking, “I don’t have time to do that,” but the evidence points to better productivity and a happier and healthier life when you gain control of your work-life balance so can you really not afford not to?