7 Tips from Psychologists to Help You Maintain Work-Life Balance

About goals, boundaries and the ability to say “no.”

 

As we navigate this time of great uncertainty, mental health and well-being are once again being challenged. According to a study by The Office Group, 32% of workers say that living through the pandemic has brought them closer to burnout. In December 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned of a looming mental health crisis among young people.Based on articles from the Los Angeles Times , HuffPost , and CNBC, we have selected seven tips from psychologists on how to manage stress, set boundaries at work, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

#1 Learn to say “no”

It’s one thing to define your goals cyprus mobile phone numbers database but it’s equally important to understand when to say “no,” says social psychologist and professor at Cornell University Vanessa Bohns.

Think carefully about ideas before you agree to them . Every new commitment takes time away from another area of ​​your life, so it’s You Maintain worth considering each decision carefully.

This doesn’t mean you have to pass on all the offers that come your way, but it’s worth taking some time to think about which ones fit your goals and whether they’re really what you need.

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#2 Don’t Neglect Other You Maintain Areas of Your Life

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Family, hobbies, relationships – these are the ones that suffer most when we take on another urgent task or reply to an important email on the weekend.

“When you’re fully immersed in what you’re doing, you get the best experience. So when it’s time to be an employee, be You Maintain an employee. But when it’s time to be a parent or a friend, put your work aside and be fully present in the moment,” says psychologist Aimee Monterrosa.

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • What areas of life require special attention right now?
  • What brings me joy and peace?
  • What helps me disconnect from work?

This will help you set the direction of your development and notice when you are deviating from the track.

“People who are trying really hard at work often have a hard time setting boundaries. I have clients like that too, and I’ve told a few of them, ‘Your job pays you for your time, experience, and effort, but not your soul.’ That helps them understand that giving your all at work isn’t worth it, and often isn’t even required. They can set boundaries with a clear conscience and know that it’s worth taking some time and energy for themselves,” says clinical psychologist Ryan Howes.

#3 You Don’t Have to “Earn” Days Off to Allow Yourself to Rest

A Harvard Business School study found that people worked an average of 48 minutes longer during lockdowns. According to the University of Chicago factors to consider when selling an ecommerce business remote workers extended their workdays by 30% without increasing productivity.

“We live in a society that values ​​productivity, busy schedules, and daily overwork. It’s important to set clear boundaries for your work life so you can take better care of yourself,” says Catherine Perez, a family therapist.

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Give yourself permission to rest, take a day off, take a vacation or sick leave, and say “no” to something you’re not physically or emotionally ready for. You don’t have to prove you deserve a vacation to be able to afford it.

#4. Relax your body when faced with stress

In a stressful situation guinea lists we can’t always take a break or leave. Marlene Valter, psychologist and founder of AnaVault, suggests getting into the habit of “scanning” your body for 5 to 10 seconds, looking for tension—from head to toe—while relaxing all the muscles. This can be repeated several times a day.

“Once you learn this, in a situation—when you’re dealing with stress, an important deadline, a difficult boss, colleague, or family member—it only takes 5 seconds to relax, confront the problem, and perhaps change your perspective. This little exercise will help you reduce your stress and anxiety levels throughout the day.”

According to Marlene Valter, it’s not about living without stress, but about approaching problem-solving with a clear head.

#5 When you feel down, do at least one thing

The psychological strategy of avoiding stress is one of the survival mechanisms that we activate consciously or subconsciously to avoid a difficult problem or unpleasant thoughts or feelings. This mechanism is what we deal with when we are stressed by a huge number of tasks and subconsciously postpone making decisions in order to temporarily feel better.

“A common problem my clients struggle with is the desire to shut down when they feel overwhelmed by work. At that point, it’s best to do something—even the smallest thing. That way, your to-do list will be shorter and you’ll be less stressed the next day,” says psychotherapist Shannon Garcia.

 

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