The United States has been coined “the no vacation nation” due to its major focus on work productivity and financial success. Even when much of the workforce takes official vacation time, it doesn’t mean unplugging. We bring our to-do list with us, check email regularly, work on projects and juggle all the balls we do while we are in the office, at school or in the field. Now, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have formalized the 24/7 connected, work-at-home model. The difference, however, is that we’ve added new roles and responsibilities as we become more involved with our children’s education and care for our older parents and relatives.

With at-work and at-home lives more blended than ever, your work-life balance may be jumbled. It’s a good time to identify routines and habits that will enable you to tune out, turn off and rejuvenate.

Practical Tips to Improve Your Work-Life Balance

1. List your responsibilities. The act of writing out your duties and obligations helps you visualize how much you’re doing and where your priorities lie. This exercise can enable you to identify what you may be able to delegate, discontinue or devote more time to.
2. Schedule a time to “unplug” each day. Many workers have gone remote in today’s environment. We’re answering emails, making phone calls and attending Zoom meetings from our homes. This can make it even harder to “unplug.” Just like you’d schedule time to work, it’s equally important to schedule downtime. Set aside a specific time each day to switch your phone to silent and turn off your computer. Identify an activity to engage in or an environment where you want to spend time that has nothing to do with work. Whether it’s cooking, listening to music, taking a walk, reading, crafting or spending quality time with friends and family—these are all are great ways to power down.
3. Find ways to be “in the moment.” Fear and anxiety manifest themselves when we are future-oriented. Depression can set in when we focus on the past. The present enables us to indulge in the spontaneous and embrace the “now.” Meditating is a great way to practice mindfulness. It is a healing experience. As Oprah Winfrey says, “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”
4. Communicate when you need help. If you find you’re on overload, don’t be afraid to reach out to coworkers, supervisors, family and friends. Let them know when you need backup. Not only can this help you get back on track, it fosters a culture of shared success.
5. Take care of yourself. It’s surprising how easily we forget that taking care of ourselves is a daily responsibility. Make it a priority. Get enough sleep, exercise, eat healthy and practice positivity to feel better in you daily life, both in work and play. While not always easy, Stephen Covey advises, “Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.”

How You Live Each Day

Many of us actively seek to optimize our work schedules and productivity, but how often do you think about optimizing your downtime, your mental health and your personal aspirations? We’re often hardwired to think about work, school and economic prosperity as top priorities. However, the recent crisis has reminded us to look inward at our home lives, the areas where we can find daily joys and how this affects our work-life balance. Use this time to consider ways to prioritize the way you live each day, rather than how you live your 40-hour work-week, and take this practice with you into future years for a healthy balance.