The Importance of having a Healthy Work/Life Balance

In today's fast-paced business world, the ability to achieve work-life balance is becoming more and more difficult. As a freelancer, having a healthy work-life balance can be an even more difficult task.

As a young professional, I’ve often faced the dilemma of whether unplugging when I leave my home office is acceptable. Do I provide myself with the freedom to stop answering my emails once I’m out of my “work hours” - can I really resist the pinging alerts of my gmail app?

A recent survey showed that 73 percent of professionals believe that their mobile devices contribute to stress in their lives. If I’m honest, I’ve found the guilt of powering off often wins over the relaxation of personal time.

It’s so important to find this balance. Here are my tips on how to try to keep work hours within work hours!

Set aside time for loved ones

It can be really stressful being a freelancer since work can come and go, but sometimes it’s my loved ones that really help me cope with this stress. And these are the people my freelancing career affects the most! Not only is this good for my productivity, it’s also beneficial for my overall health since social interactions can reduce stress and anxiety. I now plan time to see my family and hang out with my friends every week and I never bail on them for work!

Learning to say ‘No’!

The word ‘no’ can become a scary one when you’re a freelancer.  Saying ‘no’ to a client is one of the hardest things I find I do. After all, you never know when work is going to dry up?! I’ve taught myself that if I already have a full schedule work, why take on another project? The additional work is going to increase my stress level and interfere with my personal life, so I’ve learned to say no.

Get super organised