With the Australian Government now making mental health and wellbeing in the workplace a national priority, initiatives like RU OK? Day are growing in popularity every year. Organisations looking to go beyond the one day of acknowledging issues that affect our mental health are taking a broader approach in 2020 and beyond, looking at the overall picture. One of the approaches often discussed is the concept of work-life balance, which is recognised more and more as a key determinant of an employee’s mental health.

Healthy mind, healthy body

We all want to do well at our jobs. However, when our desire to succeed professionally is stronger than our own well-being, it can be detrimental to our mental health. This is because failing to strike a balance between work and private life can cause issues both at work and at home. Those with a work-life imbalance are more prone to experience unusually high family conflicts, relationship breakdowns, as well as physical and mental health problems. At the same time, an individual’s work life is also affected – productivity and engagement also decrease, which results in absenteeism, which costs Australian businesses around $32.5 billion a year.  

From the operations manager to the senior engineer and all the way to the frontline employee, everyone has a responsibility to create a healthy mindset when it comes to work-life balance. After all, healthier people are happier and work harder. 

Here’s 5 ways to achieve a healthy work-life balance in 2020:

Simple steps to a healthy work-life balance

• Learn to say no: Sometimes, you all you need to do is say no. Say no to overtime. Say no to unreasonable demands. If you find it difficult to say no, ask yourself if you’re neglecting yourself in lieu of someone else. If the answer is yes, this may give you some clarity and help you put your foot down next time you find yourself in a similar situation.
• Exercise: Finding the time to hit the gym after a strenuous day at work might seem like a pipedream, but in fact, lifting those weights or doing a stint on a treadmill can do wonders for your mental health. Not only will 30 minutes a day of physical activity boost energy and improve concentration, but it will also release those endorphins we all love.
• Don’t be afraid to unplug: For many of us, punching out our time cards and putting the tools down are only symbolic gestures – a lot of us tend to mentally take our work home with us. One simple way to switch off from work mode is to disconnect your email from your mobile phone, so you won’t be distracted by – and pressured to respond to – those ‘bings’ every time they come through. Taking the time to unwind when you’re not at work will help you feel more energised and motivated when you’re actually on the clock.
• Take a holiday: If you’re worried that taking time off will guarantee you’re met with a backlog of work when you return, consider the alternative: burnout and forced hospital stays. It’s important to physically and mentally recharge, and this means taking a few consecutive days off in the year to really relax and let go. Whether it’s a 7-day trip to Bali or a weekend away in rural country, you owe it to yourself to step away from your work commitments to focus on your health. 
• Give yourself ‘me time’: When was the last time you binge-watched your favourite Netflix show? Or spent time with your family? If your head hits the pillow as soon as you get home from work, then you need to make time for yourself and your loved ones. After all, nobody at your job is going to love you the way your family does.

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