The 1in5 Anti-stigma Campaign focuses on normalizing the need for mental health resources and removing barriers for those who want to access care. Starting the conversation regarding these significant yet treatable issues also opens the door to providing support.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, we’ve provided helpful information on specific topics. As May winds down, we explore work-life balance and how to prevent burnout.
Improving work-life balance
Balancing the demands of your work, relationships and other obligations can be challenging. Work-life balance doesn’t always mean putting equal effort into all areas of your life but rather allowing for flexibility and making sure one area does not overwhelm the others. When you maintain a healthy harmony between your different interests and responsibilities, you’re likely to feel less stressed, more productive, and more energized and content overall.
However, it can be tempting to try and “do it all” by working extra hours or saying “yes” to events or meetings you simply don’t have time for. This practice of overextending yourself can lead to burnout over time. Burnout develops gradually due to prolonged periods of stress and can include feelings of exhaustion, detachment, irritability, and depression. If you often feel stressed, this could be a precursor to burnout. Improve your work-life balance by:
- Responding to signs of stress. Regularly practice stress-relieving strategies to prevent acute stress from becoming chronic.
- Prioritizing. Prioritize what needs to get done, establish deadlines and focus on completing the most important tasks first.
- Setting boundaries. Limit work hours, make sure you take time off for lunch, recognize when too much is too much and set limits.
- Taking breaks. Time away, whether a few minutes throughout the day or full vacation days, is essential to a successful work-life balance.
- Caring for yourself. Prioritize yourself and incorporate self-care into your routine to feel rested and recharged.
Pursuing work-life harmony and caring for your wellbeing is an important first step toward preventing burnout. Permitting yourself to focus your best efforts on a few things rather than all things is a great place to start. However, when stress becomes too much to handle on your own, it might be time to seek professional help and get back on a track that is more balanced.
Help is available
As always, your SupportLinc EAP is available 24/7/365 to provide advocacy and resources to support various mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, stress, work-related pressures, relationship issues, and substance use. To contact SupportLinc, you can call them at 1-888-881-LINC(5462), email them at support@curalinc.com, or visit their website at supportlinc.com and use the group code psh.