Bringing Business Wellness Into the Workplace - Creating a Work Life Balance
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Work. Sleep. Work. Sleep.
Does this process sound all too
familiar?
As humans, we are wired to work.
Overworking is praised. Working into burnout means you are doing something
right. Right? And when we lose our job, we sometimes feel hopeless because work
is what we do.
Losing two jobs during COVID was
heartbreaking for me and I was out of work for 10 months. I’m sure most of you
can relate to losing a job, working less, and fighting for unemployment. So,
when I got a full-time job in October of last year, I did what I was supposed
to do. I became super focused, constantly worked, worked overtime, and did
everything I could to keep my job.
Getting a raise after six months
(that I didn't have to ask for) pushed me even more into work mode. Until I got
burned out - which is ironic because the company I work for really stresses
work/life balance. I had to learn the hard way.
This past year has really taught me that you can work hard – and play hard. And there is a reason why that quote exists. I work for a company that helps attorneys create a more manageable work/life balance and, although I'm not an attorney, why can't I practice what I preach every single day?
Here are some things you can do as an employee, as an owner, or as a business professional to focus on business wellness in your life – take time off, work out, read and blog, rest, focus on nutrition, make time for therapy, and focus on creating or building a life that prioritizes your needs and happiness.
Take time off
Taking time off is typically something that we think about doing last – but
even taking a half day off can do a lot of good for your soul, your mind, your
energy, and your creativity. You don’t have to go out and spend money or go
somewhere with family or friends (although I highly recommend it) – you can use
this day to rest, clean up the house, catch up on things that you have been
behind on, pay bills, or just simply do nothing.
·
Make
sure when you take the day off, you aren't checking work emails! This is time
that you can spend away from your desk. Delegate any tasks to a team you trust,
put on your “out of office” note, and enjoy the time you have to yourself!
·
Taking
time off also helps with creativity - you may notice when you come back to work
that you have a new perspective and your creative juices flow at a faster rate.
Work out or go on a walk
Working out is something that I was consistent with for about seven months - and I didn't realize the affect it really had on my body until I got COVID and didn’t work out for almost a month. Working out calms your body, eliminates stress, and is an easier way to tackle your workday.
·
If
you can work out before you start working, it can really help prepare you for a
calmer day. If you can't, just making time for it is a great step!
·
If
you can, try taking breaks throughout your workday to get your heart rate up. I
work from home, so I take a break every hour or two and do the dishes, do
laundry, or clean. This can definitely help if you don't want to workout or don't have the means to.
Read or blog
I personally love reading and blogging. Reading takes my mind into a place
where I don’t have to focus on the present and I can learn something new.
Writing and blogging allows me to vent and express myself on a new level. If
you read self-help books or books that speak about self-awareness and awareness
around you, you are learning how to become a better person through this
process.
Rest
This is so important but most of us don’t get the rest we need in a typical
day. I have noticed a shift in my focus and energy when I don’t get enough
sleep. Here are some tips to help you get more rest:
· Try going to bed 30 minutes to an hour earlier than usual, if possible, and see what difference that makes in your energy levels. When I had COVID, I was going to bed around 8:30pm compared to midnight (!) and what a difference it made.
· Find something that helps you relax at night to help you sleep better - that could be reading, taking a hot shower, working out, meditating, or doing yoga.
Nutrition
This one is huge. It is so important to have a balanced diet. Working from home makes this difficult with soda, snacks and then snacking again at night. By keeping track of my calories, walking around more often, and buying healthier snacks, it makes things a lot easier. I have also narrowed my soda drinking down to one soda per day now. Wellness can be extremely difficult, and it really is tough to balance everything, but once you start to focus on yourself and your self-care, you will start to realize that life is much easier and better with balance.
Therapy
I started therapy earlier this year and it is one of the best things that has
happened to me. Between stress of the job, personal issues, and not wanting any
of this to affect my workplace, I decided to speak to a therapist once a week. The
therapist opened my eyes to self-care and focusing on the things I enjoy doing,
not necessarily focusing on other people around me. It was tough for me to put
my family aside and figure out what makes ME happy but since then, I have
realized that I had put myself to the side for at least the first half of the
year. In actuality, the past few years. I have been able to take time off, make
time for my family close by at least once a month, watch what I eat, I developed
a work out schedule, stopped midnight snacking, started decorating our home and
purchasing things that we haven’t been able to in the past, online shop, and
all of this combined provides the balance that I have been craving.
Find a Job That Focuses on YOU
This is SO hard to find. It is so important that you find a career that focuses
on you, your family, and your priorities. It took me a very long time, but I am
SO happy with where I’m at right now. I don’t have to worry about missing work
to go get my son from school because he is sick or have to take him to the urgent
care. Find someone that says to you, “work can wait” Find someone that
prioritizes YOUR health, family, and offers a flexible schedule. It makes the
world of a difference and, although it’s been a huge transition for me, I have
realized that life is not all about work. Work and money are important, but
family and friends are more important. I also use several planners and
calendars to keep track of work events and personal events, so I know when to
schedule my half days or full days off.
If you are a business, I would recommend that you provide the ability for your employees to take paid time off, have mental health days, have available insurance to pay for therapy, promote wellness and self-care, and offer remote work and flexible hours. Create a team you trust and build a positive environment, offer a wellness program, and prioritize your employees.
What would you add to this list?
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