Tips to Achieving a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Do you think about work on the weekends? Or in the evenings while you’re having dinner? If so, you may have fallen into the trap of an unhealthy work-life balance. Achieving a healthy work-life balance can be more challenging than it appears. Many people find it difficult to separate their professional and personal life. I've asked my People & Culture team to share their valuable tips and tricks to help maintain this balance, especially with the holiday season approaching.

Firstly, it’s essential to pinpoint the challenges employees face when trying to maintain this balance. Bebiana Liau, People & Culture Business Partner, has identified the key problem.

“One of the biggest challenges is the struggle to separate our professional and personal life, despite our best intentions. It’s important to establish clear boundaries and even more important we stick to them. Commit 100% to work during business hours but know when and how to disconnect at the end of the working day. Remember, maintaining a good work/life balance is an ongoing cycle so get into a good rhythm to make it sustainable.”

Recognising the signs of an unhealthy work-life balance is crucial for maintaining overall well-being. If you’re unsure where you sit on the scale, Rachel Martin, People & Culture Business Partner, has shared 10 key indicators to watch out for.

1. Feeling constantly exhausted and burnt out.
2. Difficulty concentrating on tasks, lack of interest at work.
3. Headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues or frequent illnesses.
4. Not having clear boundaries and always working overtime.
5. Taking work home and struggling to disconnect from work during personal time.
6. Feeling guilty for taking a break.
7. Declining social events due to not having the time or the energy.
8. Dread or avoid going to work, decline in productivity.
9. Not making time for self-care.
10. Problems in relationships with family, friends, or partner.

If you’ve managed to avoid the signs and symptoms mentioned above, congratulations. However, the reality is, most people will encounter one or more of these challenges at some point and that’s completely normal. As Rachel explains, the benefits of maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle are substantial!

“It’s all about living a happy and productive life by prioritising your personal time and the time you spend at work. Once you achieve that happy medium it can lead to an improvement in overall health and wellbeing by improving both mental and physical health, higher job satisfaction, greater ability to focus and concentrate which leads to higher productivity, improves motivation and morale, opportunity to spend more time with loved ones and have a productive social life.”

To help follow this advice Luiza Ceresa, People & Culture Coordinator, has compiled a list of the top tips to help keep you happy, healthy and productive.

1. Set clear boundaries. Make sure you separate work and personal time. Stick to a consistent schedule and when work hours are over, fully unplug and recharge.
2. Prioritise self-care. Don’t skip meals, exercise, or sleep! Taking care of yourself boosts energy and focus, making you more productive and happier overall.
3. Take regular breaks. Short breaks throughout the day can keep you refreshed. Go for a quick walk or stretch to avoid burnout and keep your mind sharp.
4. Learn to say no. Sometimes, it’s okay to decline extra tasks if your plate is full. It’s important to protect your time to avoid stress and maintain high-quality work.
5. Make time for what matters. Spend time with your loved ones, enjoy hobbies, or simply relax. A fulfilling personal life keeps you motivated and balanced in your work life, too!
6. Celebrate small wins. Did you finish that project you’ve been working on? Take some time to celebrate it! Recognising your own efforts keeps you motivated and reminds you that you’re achieving great things – both at work and beyond.

A healthy work-life balance benefits both employees and the business. From a company perspective, this will increase employee retention and help reduce absenteeism. Dicker Data recognises that a diverse workforce requires a range of options for working optimally to suit individual differences in neurodiversity and life commitments. We offer a Flexible Work Toolkit with a wide variety of flexible work models, vacation care for working parents, onsite fitness classes, financial and education support for managing work and life circumstances, and many other initiatives to support our people in achieving the right balance for each individual.

As we head into the 2024 holiday season and the beginning of a new year, Bebiana Liau, People & Culture Business Partner, highlights what employees could be doing to help them recharge.

“Acknowledge your efforts and celebrate your achievements (but do so responsibly!). Look back on the year gone by and reflect on all the positive progress you’ve made, both at work and in your personal life. Spend quality time with your loved ones, plan a well-deserved holiday, take the time to explore new places and meet new faces, or volunteer and give back to our community. Whilst there are often a lot of social work events on at this time of the year, know yourself and assert your limits. And, lastly, the holiday season can be a time of loneliness and anxiety for some people so be kind, always.”

Thank you to my People & Culture team for sharing these tips! We hope this advice can help improve your current work-life harmony. Here's to a more balanced lifestyle in 2025 and beyond.