Do you feel youβre not getting the balance right at work? Always feel overwhelmed and exhausted? Lets stop that cycle and create new habits.
How can we focus on creating holistic ways of working where we can thrive as employees but also be respected for our personal boundaries using positive psychology tips? Letβs break down the barriers of βwork/life balanceβ and make it mean something, not just a phrase used to fit the quotas
1. Practice a positive mindset
Work can sometimes feel all consuming. When the pressure is on and a deadline is to be reached, any mistake can feel like the end of the world. Reality is that failure is normalβ¦but that can be a difficult pill to swallow. The difference you can make in this situation is to recalibrate into a βgrowth mindsetβ and build self-resilience β it is time to pull yourself out of that fixed mindset state of failure situated consistently in fear mode.
2. Networking
Connecting with likeminded people is essential. Much of our experience as humans revolves around other people and having a social support network can help with reducing depression and anxiety, as well as lower mortality rates. After the difficulties experienced in Covid 19 and the changes to social engagements, it is more important than ever to get back to building and maintaining our networks, even virtually! Donβt underestimate the foundations and safe space it creates to enable you to develop, learn and push yourself. Reach out to your tribe and try to connect with people outside of your immediate work circle to help you see new perspectives.
Also, try and share a piece of positive feedback to the next person you work with, thus no doubt will boost your happiness and theirs – win win!
3. Community engagement
Having passions is easy outside of work, but donβt let that stop you from bringing that energy and goal setting into the workplace. What brings you alive, what makes you smile or gives you satisfaction? Think of ways to inject this into your work and it will transform it into being both more effective and enjoyable. Perhaps setting up or joining a group at work e.g., after work fitness clubs, creating societies that peak your interest (and others). If something is missingβ¦speak up! But be savvy with your time, focus on the areas you can or have the potential to really add value – stretch yourself but ensure you dedicate enough time to complete it.
4. Take the wins β even if they are small!
The sense of achievement no doubt has great satisfaction. Achieving your goals from both external recognition and a personal sense of accomplishment are key drivers for happiness. We need to ensure these milestones are captured and displayed to reconfirm that you are fantastic! Try creating vision boards, both for personal and professional growth β what am I focused on achieving, where do I see my future and how can I take the steps to get there? By using the career frameworks, you can map out where you need to be and set goals to reach them. And donβt be afraid to share these with others who can help you on your growth journey.
5. Purpose driven
How are you staying accountable for the direction your work life is taking? Do you find it to be meaningful?People who claim that they have more meaningful lives often also report being happy and satisfied with their lives. So how can we do this at work? How can we ensure we stay on track? By being clear with our intentions and how we utilise our time. The pomodoro technique is a great way to break up your day and ensure you have time to recentre. A simple tip is also to set a half hour meeting on outlook to 25 mins, allowing for a 5 min reset before going into another meeting β action self-care to ensure you can turn up and give your full self to every meeting.
To summarise, try to evaluate your lifestyle and the choices you make individually. What can you do to improve the situation, how can you use the practices in day-to-day life? Can you use this to help others? Can you use others to help you? The best ways to be successful and stay on track is to believe in yourself. Whatever you focus your intentions on you create, so show the world you are more than just a number in an organisation, you are a valued person who can bring positivity energy β creating healthier wellbeing practices and work culture.
Best Life With Becca 