We spend a huge portion of our lives working towards something whether it’s getting into grad school or building up an amazing career. But once we get there, the work definitely isn’t over. We have deadlines to meet, bosses to impress, and goals to be reached.
And with all these responsibilities on our shoulders, we sometimes let the rest of our lives fall by the wayside — as we’ve been warned, that isn’t the healthiest way to live. It’s hard to strike the perfect work-life balance, but it’s important for your mental health to find time to enjoy yourself and to maintain relationships in your life.
Read through these signs to see if you have bad work-life balance and how to fix it.
You Say Yes To Everything
Saying yes to everything you’re asked to do might seem like the only option, but overloadiHere’s How to Know If You’re a Workaholicng yourself only leads to fatigue and frustration. “You will never feel like you have time for yourself, your family and friends, or your priorities if you’re always saying yes to everyone and everything else,” says business coach Christy Wright. “Instead, be more selective about how you spend your time and you will instantly feel like you have more of it.”
Your Favorite Hobby Is A Distant Memory
When was the last time you made it to a yoga class or whipped out that sketchbook? If it’s been years, you might want to set aside some much-needed “you time.” “The only way to get back into it is to just do it,” says Wright. “Sign up for a race, sit down in front of a canvas, or get in the pool. It’s in the doing that we remember what it feels like to reconnect with this part of ourselves.”
Your Life Feels Unmanageable
Working too frequently can take its toll, and this can begin to affect you emotionally. “You can start loosing your cool and become very reactionary to life‘s passing dramas,” says life coach Silvia Christmann. “If you can’ think clearly and feel overwhelmed at the slightest sign of difficulty, take a deep breath before reacting to anything. Learn how to pause or take up a meditation practice.”
You’re Constantly Plugged In
If you find that when you’re not staring at a computer screen, you’re constantly checking your phone for calls and emails, it might be time to step away. “Nonstop screen time takes our attention away from the important moments around us,” says Wright.
You Can’t Sleep
Spending every night tossing and turning anticipating tomorrow? “You’ve got so much work on your mind, you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about what needs to get done,” says Christmann. Make a to-do list at the end of the day to get everything off of your chest, and be sure to take some time to do a relaxing activity before bed.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
