We hear a lot about work-life balance these days and with good reason. People are more stressed out with work than ever, no thanks to the pandemic. And that means it’s more important than ever to pay attention to your work-life balance and make sure it stays, well… balanced.  

 

Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine how you’re doing with your own work-life balance:  

Do You Think About Work Outside of Work?

How often do you think about work when you’re off the clock? If it’s something that’s constantly on your mind, including on nights and weekends, your balance might be tipping in the wrong direction. You should be able to leave work at work and “unplug” from your job once the day is done. If this isn’t you, it might be time to make some changes.  

Do You Make Time For Family and Friends?

How often do you have time outside of work for family and friends? Do you feel like you socialize regularly in your time away from work, or do you feel like you rarely see loved ones because you’re so busy? When work starts cutting into the time you should be spending with your friends and family members, it’s time to make some adjustments, whether it’s cutting back on hours, switching to a new role, or finding a new job entirely.  

Does Your Job Stress You Out Regularly?

Everyone has the occasional bad or stressful day at work; it’s almost unavoidable. But if you’re feeling stressed about your job constantly, your work-life balance is out of alignment. You’re focusing far too much on work in a negative way, and it can have serious mental and physical effects. Ask yourself how stressed you feel about work, how often, and it can tell you a lot about where your work-life balance is.  

Do You Make Time For Yourself Away From Work?

Do you make time to indulge in things you like away from your job? Hobbies, interests, friends, and family, travel? Or is your time away from work simply spent recovering? Any healthy person needs to have things outside of work that boost their mood, so if you find yourself without time for things you enjoy, it’s time to make a change.  

 

Get Your Balance Back

If your work-life balance isn’t where it should be, there’s only one person who can improve it: you. Take active steps to better your approach to work – ask for a change of responsibility or find ways to make time for yourself and things you enjoy. Your mental and physical health depends on it!