Is your work affecting personal life?

You love your job and you spend the maximum time at your office. Meanwhile, you keep missing workouts, birthdays, important occasions in family, and good times with your loved ones. On top of it all, you work on weekends as well. Your personal life takes a backseat. Yes, you love your work but it’s equally important to give some time to yourself. Your work affecting personal life is a cause of concern. Previously dismissed as a millennial “complaint”, burnout is increasingly becoming common in the modern work-life narrative. And it is real.

“People can’t work 24/7. They need to have other things going on in their life,”

– Kim Perkins, Organizational Psychologist and Chief Behavioral Scientist

According to a survey by Gallup, 23% of 7500 full-time employees reported feeling burned out at work very often or always, while 63% said they experience it sometimes.

If you see a disturbing pattern in your personal and professional life, a line needs to be drawn. As they say, to each his own, you can certainly identify your own solutions. We have some suggestions outlined for you.

(Suggested Read: Approaching a fine Work Life balance in Oil and Gas Industry)

Form new habits at the end of your workday

Try creating a to-do list for the next day before you switch off your computer. Building a routine helps you leave work on time and transition to your personal space. After leaving from work, do things that you need to do in the personal front. Go home, relax, and make some tea. Take your dog out for a walk. Do some exercise. Cook a healthy dinner. It can be anything. If you are away from family, these activities can really help you clear your mind. The intent should be to relax and a to-do list for the next day acts as a trigger to end your day at work and begin your personal time.

Shut your office door during weekends

Free your weekends from work. Make room for yourself. Invest time in family. Read, write, go out to that cafe on your list for a long time, run a marathon, do some gardening, attend a Zumba session, or do anything that your heart is into. Unless it is an emergency, keep your weekends reserved for yourself. The coming week is again going to be a set of goals and meetings. You need a break and you deserve one.

Limit your screen time

Technology is an integral part of our lives. But when it begins to infringe upon our personal space, some limits need to be defined. For instance, scrolling through work emails on your phone while talking to family members. And when not checking emails, mindlessly drooling over Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat. Your mind is constantly occupied and there’s no time to think or simply relax. Your time away from screen is actually the time you are investing in yourself and your loved ones. This time is very important. Scheduling ‘no screen’ hours can go a long way in building positivity and creativity.

Go on a vacation

It does not matter whether you are the CEO of your organization or an employee, you need to sign up for that vacation which your body, mind, and soul, so badly needs. Whenever possible, try taking some time off from work and get away from the mundane. Even if it is a trip to a nearby resort or a small hill station, simply go away for a while. A vacation acts as a great stress buster.

Invest in your hobbies

If you do not have a hobby, we suggest you develop one. Finding one activity that helps you relax your mind, and doing it on a regular basis, can keep you positive and inspired. Having a hobby is on you but make sure you have one. Gardening, painting, reading, writing, dancing, and there are many more alternatives.

Remember, your work life is not your whole life

It is important to acknowledge the fact that you have a life beyond your work. It does not matter how much you love your job but if your work starts overtaking your personal space, you need to consider a few things. And remember, quitting your job is not the solution. Give some time to yourself and think how work has slowly and gradually captured the majority of your personal space. Things can turn around for better if you make some changes in your daily schedule.

Hope these suggestions help!

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(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Energy Dais.)