April marks Stress Awareness Month, an important time to shine a spotlight on our employees' well-being. This year's theme, #LittleByLittle, underscores the profound impact of small, consistent positive actions on our overall wellness. Among this focus, it's vital to recognise the blurred lines between work and personal life. In today's world, where remote work has become ubiquitous, the temptation to constantly check our devices can make it challenging to clock off and truly disconnect after work. Mastering the art of disconnecting after work is essential for self-care, it is key to preventing burnout and stress, helping enhance well-being, increase productivity and fostering overall life satisfaction.
What are some ways you can improve your ability to disconnect from work and achieve a healthier work-life balance?
Delving into easy methods that help reduce stress during or after a workday can bring about notable benefits. Here are some #LittleByLittle suggestions to assist in achieving work-life balance.
1.Take breaks
Ensuring you take breaks during work is crucial for sustaining mental energy, focus, and productivity. While working from home, the accessibility of our workstation is just a few steps away. Giving yourself a moment to step away from your desk for a brief stretch, brewing a cup of coffee or tea, or even taking a refreshing walk, can help clear your mind, sustain your energy levels and relieve eye strain throughout the day. These practices are beneficial whether you’re working in the office or from home.
2.Communication and setting boundaries
It’s important to communicate and set boundaries for work. Be sure to clearly define and communicate your working hours to colleagues and customers, so they understand when and how they can contact you and expect response time. It’s good practice to give yourself dedicated space to focus on tasks and to confidently seek help when the workload becomes overwhelming. If possible, consider removing work-related apps from personal devices, if that’s not an option, consider disabling notifications during non-working hours to minimise distractions.
3.Time management and prioritisation
Effective time management and prioritisation will help when trying to switch off after work. When you focus on important tasks during the day, you'll leave less unfinished business to cloud your mind later. To-do lists and scheduled tasks keep you on track, while planning prevents that Sunday scaries feeling. Start the week prepared for success by tackling some things beforehand. By mastering these techniques, you'll accomplish more at work, freeing you to truly disconnect and recharge during your time.
4.Practice self-care
Sometimes life throws curveballs, but self-care can be the strike zone. Even in the best of times, stress at work can be hard to avoid and unpredictable, and that’s where self-care comes in. Taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being is key to disconnecting from work. By prioritising and making time for activities you enjoy – exercise, spending time with loved ones, reading a book – you can unwind, recharge your batteries, and boost your mood. Self-care will promote balance and resilience, making it easier to clock off and leave work at work.
In the workplace, stress is often unavoidable, but we can employ techniques to maintain control and prevent our minds from wandering. By incorporating effective techniques into your daily routines, you can prevent stress from derailing your focus and productivity. Consistency is key, habitual practice strengthens our ability to disconnect from work-related stressors and maintain a healthier work-life balance.