What comes to mind when you think of your work-life balance? Is it something that's important? Something you want to work towards in your own life, or is it a mythical state of being that's thrown around but no one really achieves it? According to Statista, a 72% of people looking for a job believe a healthy work-life balance is important, while Gen Z is reported to be the first off the workforce who prioritize this balance over other generations.
If you're in a high-pressure job and you need to tip the balance into a healthier ratio to reduce stress and constant pressure, this post has some tips that might help you without upsetting things too much.
Stop Letting Long Shifts Wipe Out Your Entire Day and Your Energy
Long shifts don't just eat into your time; they eat into your energy, too. And if you're exhausted when you finish work, then that's your entire day written off.
The squeeze here isn't trying to fit more in its about moving things around. It's doing things when you have more energy and leaving easier aspects of your day for when you don't need much energy. It might be getting a short walk in before work or meal prepping before your day begins, or when you're off work, so you're not having to think about meals after work. It might be making plans after work and having a structure, so you don't just sit and do nothing. But putting these into your life as non-negotiables when you're not completely exhausted can help you out. Even small changes can even life out and make you feel better.
Use Employer Support Systems More
This aspect all depends on what your employers have on offer to help you out. But what you can do is understand what's at your disposal and use it.
Access to proper healthcare, mental health support, and benefits can all reduce pressure in your private life. It's looking for jobs that have the benefits you need when applying for new roles, such as Royal Ambulance employee benefits, so you know what to expect when you join a new organisation.
Because when you have structure and systems in place, and you can use and easily access them, it just makes life that little bit more manageable, especially when time is short and pressure is high.
Build Predictable Routines
It doesn't matter how hectic your work gets if you have simple routines in place that still work even when everything gets a little bit manic.
What we mean by routines isn't doing things at a certain time, but “when you wake up” or before you go to bed ord whatever time that might be. It might look like you are eating a nutritious, substantial breakfast when you get up, so you're fuelled for the day, or it can be taking 10 minutes to rest once you get home before you do anything else, or resetting things for the next day before you go to bed. These small changes and regular habits over time can help you reclaim energy, time, and mental capacity.
Let's say each night when you return home from work, you take a long shower and sit on your bed for 15 minutes before changing and doing anything else. Your body will learn that this is to be expected and will look forward to it, so it can relax and unwind, and your nervous system can calm down. Or if you know you easily have a meal you can put in the microwave for dinner, or heat up, or you've prepped breakfast the night before, your body will learn this automatically, and it will reduce decision fatigue and give your body the signal it's time to get ready or wind down.
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