Workplace Wellness Tips

Remember that feeling of spinning plates on sticks, hoping none go crashing down? Yeah, that’s pretty much adulthood now. Between chasing promotions and wiping sticky hands, achieving “work-life balance” feels like winning the lottery. How do you achieve the status of SuperMom/Dad and climb the corporate ladder? How do you manage your fantasy football team while dodging demanding clients who only want to ask you 21 questions and never want to buy? And where do you find time for yourself when work emails invade your dinner like uninvited guests?

Here’s the deal: work-life balance isn’t some fancy office perk; it’s like breathing – essential for keeping sane and productive. So, let’s ditch the jargon and chat about ways to tame the work-life beast in this crazy, loud world. In this article, we discuss some work wellness tips you can use to cash in on the greatest asset of them all – yourself.

Understanding the Challenge:

Work-life balance is trying to keep all the juggling balls in the air without dropping them (or maybe just a few, let’s be honest). Nowadays, with work schedules doing the Hokey Pokey and boundaries getting blurrier than a watercolor painting, it’s no wonder we feel so stressed out. The good news? We’re not alone. Tons of people are juggling this act.

Workplace Wellness Tip #1: Setting Goals

Remember when you tried to learn French, join a gym, and write a novel – all in one week? Yeah, me too. That was quite a week. Setting unrealistic goals is the downfall of everyone and can lead to burnout. So, let’s be kind to ourselves and set goals we can achieve. Think baby steps, not giant leaps. Prioritize like a pro: urgent stuff first, less urgent stuff later. This way, you meet deadlines without the anxiety attack, leaving time for that family fun, hobby time, or just plain old snoozing.

Workplace Wellness Tip 2: Time Management Skills for Professionals

• Tame the Time-Suckers: We all have them – meetings that run into eternity, the email vortex that eats your afternoon, and that coworker who loves 20-minute coffee breaks. Analyze your day and identify the biggest time thieves. Then, be ruthless! Schedule shorter meetings, prioritize emails (or even unsubscribe from some!), and politely excuse yourself from chatty colleagues. You will thank me later.
• Plan Your Day: Approach your daily tasks with a plan. List out your tasks, allocate time for each, and schedule them, much like a strategist laying out a battle plan. Be sure to leave yourself some time for any impromptu event that may inevitably occur. A focused approach to your day can significantly boost your productivity.
• Learn to Say No: It’s okay to politely decline tasks that would overload your schedule. Learn to say no to tasks that overburden your day. Communicate your current tasks and, if possible, suggest alternatives. Be assertive, explain your workload, and suggest an alternative, if possible. An assertive yet polite refusal is far better than a reluctant yes which leads to stress and burnout.

Workplace Wellness Tip 3: Digital Detox

The constant connectivity in our digital age can take a toll on mental health. Especially when we are always getting notified when our best friend tied his shoelace or our old roommate broke up with her boyfriend and has now started her emo-phase. A digital detox can be a great way to reduce stress and improve mental clarity and focus.

• Set Boundaries: Establish a clear line between your work time and your time. Close that laptop until the next work day. Turn off work notifications on your phone until you are back in the office. Resist the urge to check work emails during dinner. Treat your devices like a work colleague and tend to them during proper work hours.
• Rediscover Offline Pleasures: Reacquaint yourself with the joys of non-digital activities. Engage in board games, immerse yourself in a good book, or enjoy meaningful conversations with loved ones. These activities can enhance your sense of presence and connection. Might I recommend a friendly game of chess?
• Seek Peace In Nature: Go for a walk around your neighborhood. Go to the park and breathe in some fresh air. Let Mother Nature soothe you with her magic. Studies from Cornell University show that spending time in nature reduces stress and improves mood. Stop being such a phone-y for a few hours and embrace everything analog for a change.

Final Thoughts

We all need to work. We all participate in life. The key is finding what works for you and prioritizing what is most important to you. Friends, family, nature, music, art, or whatever that fuel for you may be. If you can improve a little bit each day, you will surely come out on top and be better for it. Your future self will thank you. If you are interested in how to make the most out of your next trip to the grocery store, click here.