Written by: Shaniece Benson, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It is easy for work to begin creeping into all levels of our life. When this happens, we risk falling into burnout and missing out on enjoying life! Life is about so much more than just work. We need to spend time on our health, hobbies, and time with friends and family to feel like we are really living. It's good to have a good work-life balance not only prevents burnout but opens the door to optimal health and well-being.
What is your Work-Life Balance?
Take a moment now and reflect on how often you think about work when you are not working?
I am also curious how often you work outside of your normal work hours?
Are you guilty of trying to get ahead of things by checking emails and then finding you don’t get any full days off?
How often do you just unplug from work or is it always in the back of your mind?
A work-life balance is not just about the hours you spend at work and home, but it's also looking to make sure you are also engaging in other areas of your life. If most of our life revolves around work, we will not feel good; life is not about just working-it is about living. It includes taking time for yourself and other areas of your life that are important.
I also know it can be hard to fit it all in, but if we do not work to find the balance, we will burn out, and then we will be forced to make time by not being able to work anymore and having to get help to reset. Burnout does not take a weekend to heal; it can take years, so if you can prevent it, know you will have a much more enjoyable life.
It can feel like we do not have time for these other areas of life when work takes over, but we really can't afford to not take time. The other areas will help you refresh your energy. Research has shown that the more time you take to refresh and renew that your productivity will improve. Working from a place of calm and flow is much better than stress and feeling overwhelmed.
5 Tips To Bring In A Healthy Work-Life Balance
1. Boundaries: To have a healthy work-life balance, you need to have healthy boundaries in every area of your life and within yourself. Learning what works for you is also what is important. Each person will be different in what keeps them balanced.
Things to think about are where you feel you are over-giving in your life and why? Also, how do you feel about asking for help or delegating tasks in your life? How do you feel about telling people what is okay with you and not okay? A lot of people struggle with boundaries because they feel they can or need to do it all or they fear others' reactions. If you feel this way, you may need to start small or get some coaching to help you with setting more clear boundaries in life.
2. Family and Friends: We are social creatures, and it's important to make time for friends and family; this is the key to our well-being. It can be easy to isolate ourselves when work feels too busy, but it’s important to continue to connect with others.
It is important to also have boundaries with your friends and family and to be aware of how certain people make you feel. If certain activities or topics are draining or triggering for you. It's crucial to let your friends or family know and to set boundaries around this to help you avoid burnout. Who of your friends or family boosts your energy, and who inspires you when you are around them?
3. Hobbies: What are some of your hobbies? Things you used to enjoy in the past, or maybe there are things you have been wanting to try or do. In life, it's important that we make time for things that we enjoy. When we make time for these things throughout the week or month, it adds more balance to our lives and contributes to feeling like we are really living life.
4. Self-Care: It’s major to integrate self-care into everything that you do so you can support your mind and body as you go about your days. A lot of people think self-care is something you do outside work and life, but you can actually build this into your life.
Your mindset is a key part of self-care. How compassionate are you with yourself and others? How do you breathe throughout the day? We can adjust our breathing patterns to relax the body and access more calmness throughout our day. This will help with staying focused and getting into the flow at work and in life. Mindfulness is another key self-care tool you can do throughout the day; by being present and focused on what you are doing.
A key area of your well-being is your physical fitness. When you take time to move your body, you will have more energy, and you will improve your focus, memory, and resilience. Our bodies are such an important part of life. If you don’t take care of it, you will not be able to enjoy anything in your life. By making time for your physical fitness, you will get more time in your day. If you are not sure how to do this, a coach can help you find the right exercise and balance for you.
5. Rest: We need to allow space for rest that is restful. Some people can be very critical of themselves and not allow enough rest. Whereas other people feel like all they do is rest but never really feel rested from it. It is important to give ourselves permission to do nothing on some days and to be okay with that. Don't forget that it can feel restful to watch tv and scroll on Instagram, but these things are not restful for the body. They are nice to just zone out, but they do not give you true rest, which is why you may not feel great after doing it too long.
Some important restful activities include making sure you are getting enough sleep each night, around 8 hours. There are activities like Yoga Nidra, guided meditation, yoga, etc. To have balance in our life, we need to make sure we are balancing our nervous system, and this means doing things that will help us stay calm and present so we can enjoy everything we do.
If you are not sure how to create a healthy work-life balance, you may need some help from a coach. It is a strength to reach out and get support so you can really enjoy all levels of your life.
Need assistance, book consultation call: https://bit.ly/3AQpfu1
Shaniece Benson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Shaniece is a High-Performance Fitness & Lifestyle Coach who empowers busy professionals to step into success through her 1:1 fitness training & lifestyle coaching. Featured in Southern New Hampshire University, SDVoyager, SHOUTOUT SOCAL, and Zovio for her unique and effective ways of tackling limiting beliefs and creating a new regime to feel good from the inside out.
Inspired by a drive to change the narrative of familial history connected to a variety of health conditions, Shaniece began to change some habits and fall in love with fitness. In doing so, she noticed a dramatic shift not only in her physical but also in her mental health. With her energy levels soaring and confidence boosted, Shaniece wanted to shout from the rooftops how incredibly great this all felt; and how simple it could be for others to do the same.
Thus, BloombyShaniece was born, a blog specifically designed to share content that would help women grow and embrace their true potential. She later began to work with professionals from an array of backgrounds in helping them not only to lose weight but also to encourage them to live an all-around healthier lifestyle. With training and coaching sessions specifically tailored to individual needs, Shaniece empowers her clients by informing, supporting, and celebrating them in making big changes as they embark on the journey of living their best lives.
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