There are several signs that could point to you having a bad work-life balance and its definitely up to you to try and fix it.
Here are several indicators that something is up:
You work while you’re out
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If you’re in a cafe, restaurant or a pub, there’s always a laptop on your lap and phone in your hand. You’re always excusing yourself to take a call or un-enthusiastically repeating “uh-huh” with your eyes fixed on the laptop screen whilst a friend is speaking. You might not even take note of who came and who left. Remember that taking yourself out of the stress bubble of work will make you more efficient and innovative during work hours.
More weekends on the job
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The getaway from work responsibilities has always been two holy weekend days. It’s the time you are allowed to put your phone on airplane mode and aren’t afraid of getting fired. It’s your legal break. It’s even written in your contract! So, if you spend more of those on researching, making phone calls and writing reports then your balance is way off. Don’t start seeing your 48 hours of silence as a way to do more work or gain more money. You won’t. You’re working yourself to your own death.
The late-late hours at work
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I understand that some people like to run away from their problems at home by staying late at work. Maybe you’re avoiding a certain person or topic. Allow yourself to go out and do new things to be able to feel better. Share what you feel with your colleagues and they will most certainly understand and relate to your struggles. Enough immersing yourself in more work so you can pretend your problems don’t exist. If we were in an international company they would’ve given you an extra day off and an appointment with a therapist. We’re not in an international company. Seek to your problems first. Work never ends.
All your interests revolve around the job
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You know you’re allowed to have interests other than what you do from 9 to 5 right? Take a step back and look at what you enjoy doing most. Then think about what you spend your days doing. If you don’t find any common subjects then you need to take a U-turn and save yourself. Get back to those piano lessons you wanted to get back into ever since the fifth grade. Go to that zumba or yoga class. Spend more time with people you love and appreciate to have in your life. Look for new interesting things you want to do. And, finally, have a life outside of work.
