What does work-life balance look like these days? 2020 has changed the way we do business and the way we work. We are plugged in and glued to our screens 24/7.
Without a physical office to go to, leaders and employees might find themselves working round the clock, simply because no one knows when to shut off and unplug. Not only is this harmful to a person’s overall well-being, in some cases it’s not allowed.
If you’re an hourly employee, you have set hours in which you’re supposed to work. And if you’re managing employees who are hourly, you should be keeping track of this. There has to be a separation of work and home life, even now, when people’s personal worlds have collided with their work lives. So, what does that look like?
Separating Work from Home, While Working from Home
No one said life would be easy, but we all have to make a conscious effort to think about when we start and stop our workdays. It also means unplugging and reducing screen time.
The work is still going to be there when you get back to it. If you want to foster and promote a productive and positive work culture, as a leader it’s important to let people know they can shut off. Otherwise, they will lose themselves in work, and productivity will drastically diminish.
People are tired of their increased screen time and lack of movement all day, every day.
If you’re leading a team, model the behavior you want them to adopt. If you want them to take breaks and unplug, you should also do so as a leader. Don’t send emails or accept calls after a certain time. By limiting your own use of technology, you can help your employees do so too.
At least one night a week, try to unplug completely from all of your devices. You’ll find that it helps you relax, sleep better, feel less anxious, and have more energy and focus the next day.
Avoid Burnout at All Costs
If we try to juggle everything all at once and don’t unplug, our overall well-being will be affected.
If you’re managing a team, and you start to notice that your employees feel less motivated, tired, and lack energy, encourage them to take time to step away and take care of themselves.
As a leader, what you can do to help your team stay productive is to support their requests to take time off and have their schedules be more flexible. You can also try to reduce the number of meetings weekly. Sitting in on a video call is not the same as being in-person, and people are starting to feel that. Allow them to work when they feel refreshed, energized, and inspired.
Take the time to invest in your team. And, team members, take the time to invest in yourselves.
Are you ready to learn how to foster a productive work culture? Let us know - we can help.