{"id":371,"date":"2023-01-26T09:46:05","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T09:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sensa.health\/?p=371"},"modified":"2024-01-23T08:24:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T08:24:02","slug":"healthy-work-life-balance-make-time-for-yourself-and-your-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/healthy-work-life-balance-make-time-for-yourself-and-your-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Work-Life Balance: Make Time for Yourself and Your Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;It&#8217;s all about balance&#8221; is a common phrase when discussing healthy work-life balance. However, achieving it can be a challenging task for many.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the demands of work, social life, household responsibilities, and leisure, finding the time for everything can be difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, 81% of employees believe that work-life balance is essential. Still, only 24% feel satisfied with the balance between their work and personal life.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is especially true in today&#8217;s fast-paced and arduous job market.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the-benefits-of-a-healthy-work-life-balance\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Benefits of a Healthy Work-Life Balance<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A balanced lifestyle can help you meet your emotional and physical needs and prevent conditions such as burnout.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a lack of work-life balance as one of the leading causes of stress and workplace burnout.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved overall health<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A harmonious lifestyle can help prevent somatic symptoms caused by prolonged exposure to stress, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle tension and pain<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of appetite<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor sleep&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, the balance between work and personal life can decrease feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, and depression.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Burnout can change one&#8217;s outlook on life and make one feel detached and cynical toward most areas. Thus, you can improve your health and mindset by making time for your emotional and physical needs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased productivity<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When overworked, you may have trouble concentrating and taking in new information. That&#8217;s because of information overload \u2013 there&#8217;s only so much you can soak up without taking a break.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Detaching from work after your shift can improve your ability to focus on the tasks at hand and make fewer mistakes in the long run. We need time to rest and recharge to approach problems with a fresh outlook.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, maintaining a healthy work-life balance decreases procrastination and improves motivation, as we feel more energized and engaged with the assignments.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"working-toward-a-healthier-work-life-balance\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working Toward a Healthier Work-Life Balance<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the benefits of a healthy work-life balance are remarkable when fending off burnout, some find it difficult to achieve.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several steps that you can take to become more resilient to stress and fatigue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set clear boundaries<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Many people may avoid setting boundaries for fear of appearing rude or uncooperative.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, having boundaries does not mean you cannot be helpful to others. Establish specific times when you will and will not be available, such as not taking on extra work outside your 9\u20135 PM shift.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&#8217;t be afraid to say &#8220;no&#8221; when you already have enough on your plate or after working hours. By setting clear boundaries, you remind yourself and others that your time outside work is your own.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Invest time for self-care<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even in our free time, we can get caught up in work-related thoughts, but if this becomes constant, it can make it difficult to escape workplace stress.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on improving your sleep hygiene, investing time in hobbies, exercise, and socialization to help settle your thoughts.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mindfulness techniques such as <a href=\"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/meditation-the-science-backed-antidote-to-stress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">meditation<\/a>, deep breathing exercises, or journaling can be beneficial.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have a support system<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building relationships with friends, family and even coworkers can provide a sense of support and relaxation.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surround yourself with people that care about you and make you feel comfortable. Having a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to about the weather can be a game changer!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember to take breaks<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is recommended to take short 10\u201315-minute breaks every 90 minutes to stretch and rest your eyes. Use this time to relax your mind as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your breaks to walk around the block, do some grounding exercises, or call a friend \u2013 this will help you shift your focus toward your well-being instead of pondering work problems.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will feel more energized and concentrated after giving yourself some time to detach from work.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"a-more-fulfilling-life\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A More Fulfilling Life<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you notice any symptoms of burnout, such as relentless fatigue, hopelessness, or cynicism, seek help and try to adjust your routine. Incorporate relaxation activities, set boundaries, and strive to live a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s not always easy to battle stress and stay positive in this demanding world. That&#8217;s why tools like the Sensa app exist \u2013 to help you achieve your best.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all about balance&#8221; is a common phrase when discussing healthy work-life balance. However, achieving it can be a challenging task for many.&nbsp; With the demands of work,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":372,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,18],"tags":[4],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=371"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1154,"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371\/revisions\/1154"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sensa.health\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}