Reimagining work-life balance post COVID
Key Takeaways (2-minute read)
- Planning ahead
- Short Breaks
- Switch Off
Working from home during COVID-19 has been amazing. Waking up right before you need to work, attending web meetings with your pyjama bottoms on, or even taking a sneaky nap on your lunch break! All the small advantages have been great, however, has this blurred the line between home and work?
Working remotely has meant that many individuals live and work in the same space, making it hard for many to distinguish between their home environment and work environment. With the frequent lockdowns, this meant many individuals could not socialise or do activities outside of work. This in turn led us to stay at our phones and computers all day.
Along with binging a new Netflix show or watching cooking videos on YouTube to try and replicate, many found themselves working during non-work hours. Reading work emails and work-related notifications whilst sitting at your computer became a norm, however, this meant that they were not switching off past their end time!
Research has shown that working more than 48 hours a week is linked with an increased risk of mental health conditions, more errors, and less productivity in your work. Remembering to work within your core hours and taking regular breaks where possible is actually more effective in creating productive work practices.
Post-Lockdown many had found themselves working overtime more often. According to The Australia Institute, many Australians work an average of 6 hours in unpaid overtime a week. Excess overtime can have impacts on both your physical and mental health, increasing fatigue and stress, whilst also causing a decreased quality of sleep.
Some things to remember and help manage your work-life balance:
- Plan AheadWhere you can plan your time and schedule ahead, so you aren’t combining your normal working days with your home life.
- Take a breakTaking a short break (or long one), can increase your productivity and give you a fresh new mindset when you come back to work.
- Switch offWhen you are finished working for the day, do things that you want to do and bring you joy, don’t think about work!
Creating an effective work life balance in a post Covid society is not only beneficial for your physical and mental health but also your effectiveness at work.
