On 7 March 321, Constantine of the Byzantine Empire issued the decree that Sunday would be a day of rest.
While this decision was undoubtedly due to religious reasons, since it aligns with the Christian Sabbath, you could argue that this had more pragmatic effects.
Indeed, declaring a day free from work gave people a chance to gather, engage in civic activities, and recharge their batteries. Centuries later this principle remains relevant, because while most enjoy weekends free from work, protecting your own time is still essential to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Continue reading to discover why time is one of your most valuable assets, and some practical ways to protect it.
Time is arguably one of your most valuable assets, as it affects your mental and physical wellbeing
It’s completely understandable that you might want to pour your time into work. After all, this is how you achieve what you want in life and accumulate wealth for the future. You may even be lucky enough to have a career that aligns with your passions.
However, as with most things, balance is essential. Otherwise, you might fall into the trap of becoming a “workaholic”.
Healthline reveals that if you start to think in this way, you may experience several symptoms, including:
- Putting in long hours even when it isn’t necessary
- Losing sleep to finish tasks
- Becoming obsessed with work-related success
- Experiencing a fear of failure at work
- Becoming paranoid about your performance at work
- Finding that your relationships deteriorate.
Even if you wouldn’t necessarily call yourself a workaholic, you may relate to one or two of these symptoms.
Left unchecked, these habits could cause stress to build, which, as research from Mental Health UK shows, is increasingly common. The charity’s survey of 4,418 UK adults revealed that 91% of respondents experienced high or extreme levels of work stress in the 12 months leading to the study.
The consequences of stress extend beyond just your mental health, as burnout can result in physical symptoms, such as:
- Stomach problems
- A weakened immune system
- Skin conditions.
Experiencing this could further reduce your focus and motivation at work, creating a cycle of low productivity and high stress.
There are some practical ways you can protect your time and improve your work-life balance
Thankfully, there are several strategies you can employ to improve your work-life balance and avoid burnout.
1. Learn how to set boundaries
It can seem challenging to turn down work, especially if you’re working your way up the career ladder. Though, it might be worth avoiding taking on extra work whenever possible, as if you end up accepting too much overtime, you could inadvertently damage your health and wellbeing.
If you have any tasks or clients that needlessly consume your time, it might be worth figuring out whether you can let them go, or reduce the amount of hours you pour into them.
Or, if you can’t afford to do this, it might be prudent to introduce a new flexible way of working, such as changing deadlines or varying the amount of work you do for them.
After all, keeping clients happy shouldn’t come at the expense of your own mental wellbeing.
2. Set clear working hours
In a similar vein, it’s also vital to set a firm structure regarding your working hours. This is especially important if you work from home, as it’s challenging to switch off if your living space is also where you work.
Even after you’ve officially clocked off, you should ensure that you properly switch off and resist the temptation to check emails or take calls outside of these hours.
If possible, you may want to use separate work and personal phones and email accounts, and switch off work notifications when you’re finished for the day.
This is because even a quick glance at an “urgent” email could drag you back into work mode, making it difficult to unwind.
Of course, there will be times when you need to be flexible to meet deadlines, but you shouldn’t make a habit of this, or else work could consume your life.
3. Make sure to go on holiday regularly
It sounds simple enough, but taking regular holidays is vital for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
This is because it allows you to fully disconnect, recharge your batteries, and gain perspective on your career.
When you eventually do get your time in the sun, you should still stick to your boundaries.
Indeed, it’s important to let clients and colleagues know in advance that you’ll be away and set up an “out-of-office” email response to remove any temptation to check in with work when you’re relaxing.
Better yet, stepping away from work, even for a short period, could improve your productivity when you return completely re-energised.
4. Make plenty of time for your friends and family
When work gets especially busy, it’s easy to forget to make time for your loved ones. Though, tending to these relationships is essential for both your mental and emotional wellbeing.
As such, it’s worth arranging regular days out with your family. Even a cup of tea and a chat in the afternoon could help you unwind from work.
Just as important is being fully present during these moments, as if you’re constantly checking work emails or taking calls, you could damage relationships in the long run.
5. Speak to a financial planner
If you find it difficult to separate your career from your personal life, it might be because you’re focused on building financial security.
While this is admirable, a financial planner could help ease some of the burden of planning for the future by streamlining your finances and helping you work towards your long-term goals more efficiently.
What’s more, they can encourage you to enjoy your wealth once you’ve earned it, helping you to escape the “constant saving” mindset.
To find out how we can help you work towards your goals and improve your work-life balance, please contact us by email at info@investmentsense.co.uk or call 0115 933 8433.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
