How to Have a Work-Life Balance – Stop Working Your Life Away

When you’re a busy young professional, it’s hard to know how to have a work-life balance. It can be easy to fall into the trap that is working non-stop. All work and no play make for an exhausting day.

Working too much and not enjoying life is common among millennials. You went to school to get a good job that you hopefully enjoy, but at some point, you have to make sure that you’re not working your life away.

If you don’t have a healthy work-life balance, your mental health will suffer. You may experience depression or anxiety, a decrease in mood, feelings of isolation, and resentment towards your job. I don’t want that for you. There’s more to life than work.

There is such a thing as work-life balance. I want to help you see for yourself that it’s possible to be good at your job and have a life outside of work.

How to Have a Good Work-Life Balance

For all my perfectionists out there, know this – there is no one right way to have a good work-life balance. Instead of trying to make the perfect schedule, make a schedule that works for you. Some days you’ll be more focused on work, while other days you’ll be able to focus more on your outside life, such as doing things for pleasure.

This might sound like I’m speaking Martian to you, but take some time off of work! Plan a vacation, take a few personal days to be with your family, or spend time alone doing things around the house. Get out and go for a hike. Spend some time at a museum. Meet friends for happy hour. Not every minute of every day needs to be about work.

Another way to make sure you have a healthy work-life balance is to work at a job you actually like. Nothing sucks your soul more than punching the clock for a paycheck that doesn’t mean anything to you and doesn’t bring you any fulfillment.

What Does a Good Work-Life Balance Look Like?

Working your life away is what will happen to you if you don’t find a good work-life balance. This can be done by making sure that you’re meeting your deadlines but also making time for friends and family. Make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet and getting enough sleep. And try not to worry about work when you’re at home.

If you work from home, you need to set boundaries. If you have an office, close the door when the workday is over, and don’t go in until it’s time to work the next day. Set timers to take breaks. Resist the urge to check your email all day and night. If you don’t have a designated office for work, clean up your space when you’re done working for the day. Put away everything that you can so that you’re not staring at your workstation all night.

Carve out time in your day that’s just for you. Do yoga, go to the gym, go on a bike ride, meditate, listen to music and drink a cup of coffee or tea, play with your pets. Spending time away from work doing enjoyable, accessible things is one great way to have a good work-life balance.

Make time for the people in your life that you care about. They want to be there for you, and they also want to see you. If all you do is work, your friends might eventually write you off and stop inviting you to things because they assume you won’t come. Working your life away is a very lonely path to isolation and depression.

Working Too Much and Not Enjoying Life is Bad for Your Mental Health

It’s not good for anyone to spend all their time either at or thinking about work. Yes, there are times when deadlines come up faster than you want them to or you have to spend later nights or earlier mornings working. But those shouldn’t be the norm.

You’re too young to spend all day every day working or thinking about work. You need to have some fun. Go out with your friends. Have family dinners. Go to the park with your dog. Join a club or adult recreational sports team. Do things that you enjoy!

Your mental health will suffer if you don’t find the right work-life balance. You may become irritable, bitter, angry, depressed, or anxious. Or all of the above. You could lose friends just by not being around. If you’re always missing social opportunities or time you could be spending with your family because of work, you haven’t figured out how to have a work-life balance and you could lose those relationships.

Let the people in your life be there for you. It’s ok to vent about work a bit, although try not to let it be the only thing you talk about. If you notice your mood or motivation starting to decrease, reach out to the people in your life who are supportive. 

Another option, and one that I unsurprisingly highly recommend is committing to seeing a therapist. Many therapists, like myself, work with young, successful people who have high-powered jobs that ask a lot of them. I know what challenges you face by working too much and not enjoying life. Your therapist will be there as an unbiased ear to help you navigate finding the right work-life balance for you.

Therapy and Coaching Can Help Figure Out How to Have a Work-Life Balance

If you want extra support, I’m here to help. I offer online therapy in Idaho and Iowa and coaching services wherever you’re located for anxious clients who struggle with things like people-pleasing, perfectionism, burnout, overwhelm, and ADHD.

Reach out today and see if we’re a good fit. Let’s start building a better future together.