Setting work/life boundaries can reduce your stress level
HAVING a healthy balance between our work and personal lives is really important for our wellbeing but, for some people, finding that balance can be a struggle.
A recent survey found that one in six employees is currently suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, while another survey found that work was cited as the leading cause of stress (34%) ahead of financial issues (30%) or health problems (17%).
A recent poll by the mental health charity Mind shows how the blurring of boundaries between our work and home lives may be contributing to mental health problems.
Their poll found that half of respondents didn’t feel that their boss respected their life outside of work, while a quarter said their boss had tried to contact them while they were on holiday.
The difficulty people experience switching off from work was highlighted by a third of employees who say they often check their work emails during their leisure time and the one in seven people who admitted checking their work emails while on the loo.
It’s important to protect the boundaries between work and home life so we can unwind, relax and focus on other important areas of our lives.
What’s sometimes overlooked is that, when people find that healthy balance, employers benefit too.
As well as reducing the amount of time lost to sickness absence, employees of companies with policies that promote wellbeing, such as flexible working, are more loyal and more productive at work.
There are simple steps we can take to help the transition from work to home life at the end of the day.
Writing a to do list for the next day before you clock off can help you to leave work at the office while listening to music or reading a book on the commute home can help you to relax.
Having protected family time or “me” time during which you switch off all the devices that give you access to work-related matters can also help.