For many of us, work forms the core of our weekday hours, with childcare and personal hobbies sandwiched between commuting or meetings. It can be hard to switch off, especially for those who work in a role that they’re passionate about or one that is particularly demanding. This has been particularly true in the last few years, as remote work has increased, leaving employees checking their emails over dinner or giving their boss a few free hours on the weekend.
Unfortunately, too much of one thing can leave us feeling burnt out. Burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion that can leave you tired, overwhelmed, and full of self-doubt. It’s far more than just a bad week and can seriously affect your ability to function in day-to-day life and your job.
So, how can you manage your relationship with work so you don’t burn out? Here are some practical tips.
Set your boundaries and take breaks
It’s easy to get stuck in the habit of skipping your lunch break or feeling too busy to even stand up from your desk. But whilst we all do this occasionally, committing yourself to regular breaks will help rest your eyes and reset your brain.
Continuously saying ‘yes’ to too much work will make it harder for you to turn down tasks in the future, as people will assume you have the capacity to help them. By setting clear boundaries and taking breaks, you help ensure your plate doesn’t permanently get overloaded.
Make time for your hobbies
Work-life balance is essential to our overall health and happiness. If you shut your laptop and then crash onto the sofa all evening, it will be hard to switch off, and you’ll potentially feel like work is the most central thing in your life.
Instead, you can just balance this by finding things you enjoy and making time for them in your schedule. Whether joining a sports club, going for a walk, reading or cooking, find an activity that brings you joy and make sure you find time for it each week.
Be mindful of communication
Increasingly, business is done online, with many relying on emails and messaging channels to divide tasks and communicate. However, this means there is often an ‘always-on’ culture, where we can no longer use not being in the office as a reason not to reply. As a result, many of us have our emails and messaging apps on our personal phones and get notified about work outside of hours, making it hard to get a break from our virtual office.
Ideally, none of us would have our emails on our personal phones. If you need to, set boundaries by muting notifications and changing your status to let your team know you’re not immediately available.
Connect with friends and family
When you’re tired, you might feel like all you want to do is be alone simply because you lack the energy for social interaction. But reaching out to friends and family for support is essential.
Communicate what you need with them—whether that’s an opportunity to vent, a problem-solving brainstorm, or simply a hug—and let them support you. This will also help stave off feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can easily spiral.
A positive relationship with work
You won’t get it right 100% of the time, but taking care of yourself and managing your relationship with your work will help you avoid burnout. Remember to take sick and holiday days where needed to create a sustainable balance of work and life.
For more advice on how to balance work and family life, check out our blog post here.