Work / life balance…. easier said then done?
In a world where communication is more instant, addictive and demanding then ever you really need to have the discipline to be able to ‘switch off’… If you don’t… i guarantee you will burn out. With smart phones, tablets, computers and the like it is very easy to get drawn in to just check ‘that one email’ or to quickly ‘respond to that demanding client’. But what you’ll find is, it is never a quick process. These devices are ‘sticky’ and designed to make us want to keep coming back for more. Develop a schedule and allocate time to check your phone, email and social media, and stick to it. Imagine being on a holiday and you decide to check your emails quickly… one potential email could destroy your whole family holiday. It’s not worth it. Work and personal life need to be clearly segregated and disciplining yourself around technology is a key factor here.
Many experts are now saying our 9-5 jobs have turned into 24 hour roles due to the use of smart phone technology. Individuals can now check their email at any time of the day. Whilst a quick response might only take a couple of minutes the mental ability involved during this process and after would equate to a lot longer then that. Are you falling victim to this? Have you had an email that has even made you go into the office on a Sunday afternoon? How did your husband/wife/kids feel about that?
Finally, research has also come out today showing that those individuals who spend time on their smart phones before they go to sleep will have disrupted sleep patterns and wake up ‘groggy’ in the morning. I know many of us fall into this trap… try to avoid surfing your iphone before you go to sleep (in the dark).. it might save you some money on coffee and red bull the next day :S
Life is to short to be worrying about demanding work emails and texts, discipline yourself to only be available during work hours. Your family, friends and body will thank you for it.