Global Wellness Monthly October 2018
Balancing Work and Family
At a glance
How to get the right work-life balance? Many people struggle to balance their work and family life. Long hours and pressure to achieve results in the office can mean you spend little time at home. Furthermore, when you are at home, you may be thinking or worrying about work. We've got some good advice to help you manage your work responsibilities better and spend more quality time with your loved ones. So you can enjoy your life more and be a more productive employee.
• The right work-life balance can benefit your job and your family.
Make it more about quality Spending quality time at home with your family is important for your wellbeing and your career. When you don't, your relationships can suffer and your stress levels may rise, which can make it difficult to perform well at work. This can put more pressure on your family life and strain on your mental resources. By learning how to be more productive when you're at work and switch off when you leave, you can break the vicious circle and enjoy a more rewarding work and family life.
• Make the most of your time with your family and have start having fun again.
How to reduce the time you spend at work: • Improve your time management skills. Ask your manager if they will send you on a course or can recommend any good books on the subject. Learn when to delegate and how to better organise your work load. • Speak to your manager about your commitments, and ask for their support in improving your work-life balance. If you’re happier with the balance, then you'll be a more productive employee. • Let go of perfectionism. Give yourself a certain amount of time for each task. When that time is up, move on to the next one. • If you have too much to do, ask your manager which tasks they would like you to do first. Ask whether they would prefer you do the less important tasks when you're free, or whether they'd like you to pass these on to someone else. • Decide what time you'd like to leave work and try to stick to it. • If you don't feel confident that you're doing a good job, ask your manager for feedback on what you're doing well and how you could improve. Ask colleagues and friends what they appreciate about you. Invest in a book about building your confidence.
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• Learn to manage your time at work better and switch off when you leave.
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• Try to leave your work at work. Spend five minutes making a list of what still needs to be done just before you leave work in the afternoon and use this list in the morning when you come in. If you have any thoughts about work at home, write your thoughts down on a piece of paper and put it aside until you get to work the next morning. • Learn to relax. Take a short stroll before you return home or soak in the bath when you do. Changing your clothes when you get home can also help you to separate work from home. • If you’re having a busy period at work, let your family know and agree to spend some time with them when the busy period is over. Set a date and stick to the agreement, even if it's difficult. Make family time count When you spend time with your family, make the most of it. Have fun together and remember how much you enjoy each other’s company. Here are a few ideas to help get you started: • Get together as a family and make a list of the things you would enjoy doing together. Include both “big outings” to plan in advance (e.g. going on a hot air balloon ride) and small trips and activities (e.g. drawing each other’s portraits). Be as creative as you can and put the list on the fridge. • Set aside time to spend with your partner. This might not feel very romantic but it may be the only way you get to see each other. Share childcare with a friend or find a regular babysitter. • Turn off the television and spend time together cooking a meal or playing board games.
Learn more. Visit livewell.optum.com now for more on this subject and other useful articles. At livewell.optum.com, you will also find resources to help you manage stress and deal with workplace issues, in addition to advice and support to improve health and well-being. Livewell is designed to provide users with information and support to help navigate many of life’s milestones.
• Get involved in a project together, such as growing vegetables or planning day trips. • Turn off your work phone and try to resist checking your emails. If you must check them, put aside ten minutes at the beginning or end of the day. • Try not to feel pressure to always do something. Taking the time to relax together is also valuable and necessary. Getting the right work-life balance can be rewarding - and may be easier than you think. Start taking the right steps today for a more satisfying work and family life.
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