We often start our day by making a to-do list of all the work that needs to be done including personal work. We are sometimes so overcommitted to our work that we think about work even in our downtime.
Are you one of those who worry about completing the unfinished tasks on your to-do list while being at home, long after your work hours?
Do you often forget about taking breaks or feel guilty during your rest time that you are not productive enough?
Or do you keep working after your meals just to finish tasks on your to-do list?
Then, my friend, you are overworking your way to burnout.
No matter how much we try to maintain a work-life balance, we end up being stressed and exhausted. Hence, it is important to detach yourself from work to rest your body and mind, so you don’t feel anxious or stressed about work all the time, especially after work hours.
Let’s look at some reasons why employees can not detach themselves from work and ways they can unplug themselves from the office.
Why do some employees struggle to detach from work?
Perfectionism –
Some of the employees are so inclined to check every task off their to-do lists that they feel the need to complete each task even if it is not critical or urgent. They have high expectations of themselves, and they always tend to underestimate or doubt their capabilities.
Unable to set boundaries –
Employees frequently worry about what the other person will think, and they are unable to refuse additional work that comes their way or do not know how to create personal boundaries. They struggle to speak out for themselves and end up doing extra or someone else’s work.
This affects the work-life balance of employees as they tend to work during their free hours or, sometimes they have to do overtime.
Strive to prove their value –
Employees, to prove their value, tend to do more tasks for less compensation just to be good in their lead’s eye. This shows employees’ insecurity and belief in themselves. Such employees feel good after doing extra work. But this does not always hold true for everyone.
Rather than underestimating your capabilities, focus on expanding and exhibiting your knowledge.
Ways to unplug and flip the switch from work completely
1. Create personal boundaries with the help of technology:
With the help of the time blocking method, prepare your calendar for the day according to your important tasks which also include the time that you spend with your family or doing something you like.
Develop a personalized calendar where you set time for everything. Let your employees know that you are busy or on vacation so they don’t disturb you within the set time frame.
2. Don’t reply to emails that are not urgent or necessary:
Do you constantly feel the pressure to respond to emails and solve queries of employees the moment you get time for yourself? You often stay in a dilemma on what to do.
You are not alone with such pressure of replying instantly. To maintain a work-life balance, you need to figure out which email is important and which can be dealt with later.
Do not send an email after work hours or during holidays if it’s not so urgent.
3. Don’t feel guilty about disconnecting from work:
Often employees worry about what to achieve or do next and they mostly think about what they are lacking in achieving such goals. Such employees also feel the urge to complete every pending task, whether important or unimportant.
This makes them stressed and worried most of the time, and they can not give rest to their mind, and they constantly work because they feel guilty.
It is necessary to remind employees about what they are good at and how far they have come and improved themselves.
4. Develop an after-work activity:
“Hobbies are great distractions from the worries and troubles that plague daily living”,
– Bill Malone
Develop a hobby that encourages you to unplug yourself from work and do what you like to do the most, and which keeps reminding you of yourself. Even if it includes gaming, spending time with kids, evening walks, or anything else.
It will help you to rejuvenate and balance work and personal life.
5. Control shutting down and disconnecting from work:
You may often gain control over time if you take ownership of how you finish your duties and maintain a healthy work-life balance by understanding when to put your work on hold and allowing yourself some downtime to recover.
Taking a long break from work is possible if you can control when to shut down your work.
Conclusion
Life is all about finding the right balance. If you are struggling to maintain that balance between your work and personal life, then you need to make changes that will help you have a singular focus whether you are working or spending time with your family and friends.
Try putting these tips into action and see how it helps you to change your routine and maintain a work-life balance.
KonarkPro , the all-in-one time management solution, enables your remote and hybrid teams to increase their productivity by letting them focus on the most important tasks so that at the end of the day, they can unplug from work completely.