Sorry to break it to you but you won’t totally rock at your job long term if you don’t take care of yourself in your down time. Sure, during work hours, give it your all, but when you clock off, your time is your own. That is, unless you have some cockamamie idea that professional burnout will be cool. (Tip: it’s 100% NOT!) Work/life balance is up to you. And if you give it a try, we reckon you’ll love it.

Get some shut-eye

We know. There’s precious little time in the day to call your own so you squeeze in as many eps of your favourite reality TV show as possible. Don’t! Sleep is important, mmm-kayy? It gives your body and brain a chance to rest plus it keeps your endocrinological system (that’s your hormones) firing. Those 3pm cronut cravings? They vanish when you start treating your body to decent sleep on the regular.

Do fun sh*t

There’s no shame in having good, wholesome fun. In fact, GPs should prescribe it! Go to a movie or comedy club. Tickle someone and laugh until it hurts. Drive across town to a new restaurant you’ve heard is spectacular. If you have to, schedule fun on your calendar until it becomes a habit.

Ease up on the tech addiction

Technology is a bit of a double-edged sword. Sure, it connects you to the world, but it also connects you to your job, even in the wee hours of the night. Your smartphone is an excellent servant but a tyrannical master! Put it firmly in its place! Outside of business hours, stop yourself from checking your emails every five minutes. DO NOT CHECK YOUR EMAILS in the middle of night. That is a sure-fire way to not get back to sleep. Email angst in the middle of the night is not my idea of fun.

Remember your relationship?

Married or not, your romantic relationship deserves to be kept off ice. Keep bringing work – or work dramas – home repeatedly and you might as well be married to your job. Make time for date night. Be the one to organise a surprise. Have dinner together. It all seems simple-as but you probably think your partner is thrilled just to have you walk in the door at night. Probs not, if you’re tied up in knots about your day.

The ‘work’ part of work/life balance will improve when you pay attention to the ‘life’ part. No one wants a cranky, miserable workmate or employee. So stop torturing yourself because you think you should feel guilty for not thinking of your job 24/7.

We’d love to hear any more tips on how you’ve achieved your work/life balance!

Written by Jackie Rahilly