Attaining and Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
Disclaimer: I am not a mental healthcare professional, and the content within this article should not be interpreted as medical advice (not even a single statement). This article is simply a description of what has worked and/or what works for me when striving to maintain a work/life balance. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding any healthcare needs.
Recognizing My Own Burnout
Attaining work-life balance – you, the reader, may say this is easier said than done, and trust me when I write that I can empathize with you. I have been fortunate to have worked for several organizations and to have gained much work experience as an employee of these companies. I enjoyed the work, even during those times when long hours were required. Yes, the long hours were necessary to complete the work, and at times, working those long hours involved more than just a few days or even one or two weeks. Rather, those long hours extended beyond those timeframes, and for me, this led to what I considered my own “burnout”. You may ask how I recognized this. Below are some of the behaviors I noticed with regard to myself:
Taking me longer to complete my daily activities. For example, a task that would normally take me ten minutes to complete (at most) would take me an hour.
Not communicating as well as normal. I minored in English during my undergraduate years, and I have my master’s degree in communication. Furthermore, I have spoken at public events, and I have led meetings within and outside of the corporate environment. Hence, communication (verbal and written) is my “thing’…one of my niches. So, when I find communicating effectively challenging (e.g., finding the right words to say or drafting an email or document and noticing that my penmanship is not according to my standards), then I know something is wrong. I review the total number of hours I have been working, and I also consider the amount of sleep I am getting.
Not attaining maximum performance during my runs.
Just feeling tired mentally and physically; the better word may be exhausted.
When I evaluated what is described above, then I felt as though I was close to or had reached that dreaded burnout phase.
Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
My personal belief is that I have the responsibility to do everything I can to prevent exhaustion, to live my best life, and to be there for my loved ones, and over time, I have learned to be proactive in my efforts to prevent burnout. Hence, I do the following (if possible):
Take breaks: These breaks can be anywhere from five to ten minutes or an hour, and during these breaks, I may just escape to a quiet place and rest my eyes. I may read something spiritual/inspirational or do a quick workout (e.g., lift weights or dance). Regardless of the activity, I make sure I give my mind a break, and usually, when I return to my task, I feel very refreshed. Also, I typically notice an improvement in my productivity and the quality of my work.
Spend time with loved ones: Family is everything, and spending time with loved ones helps give me the mental boost I need.
Take a vacation: Sometimes I just need to get away from it all. Some time away from my job, whether it is away from my work environment that is outside of my home or whether it is away from my home office, has helped me in many situations.
Working out (as previously stated) or engaging in another activity I enjoy: This gives my mind a “breather”. For example, I love to run. I am a long-distance runner, and I have been one for over ten years. This activity helps me to clear my mind, and it prepares me for my daily activities. What’s more is that because running is my passion, it is an activity that I will adhere to.
Other Considerations
As previously stated, working long hours was necessary in my situations, and over the years, I have developed a work-life balance plan that works for me, although I had to tweak it at times. My hope is that you have found (or will find) the perfect plan that works for you. If not, then I encourage you to give it some thought, consult with the necessary professionals/experts as appropriate, and put a plan into action. You just may thank yourself for it.
Temeka Borden, Pharm.D., M.A., B.S., RPh
Feel free to read my bio and company description: About — Positivity Inspires.
Disclaimer: I am not a mental healthcare professional, and the content within this article should not be interpreted as medical advice (not even a single statement). This article is simply a description of what has worked and/or what works for me when striving to maintain a work/life balance. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding any healthcare needs.
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