Healthy Work/Life Balance

We all understand the importance of a healthy balance between work and life.  This can be hard to maintain when you have a job that is demanding, or something you’re very passionate about.  This can also be difficult in a time like now, when many people are transitioning to working from home.  Whether working from home is new to you or not, you want to make sure you’re keeping a healthy balance between work and your personal life.  Here are a few tips to help you stay in balance!

It’s OK to say “No”

Having too much on your plate is the most common reason why people’s work/life balance falls out of whack. It’s important to identify your priorities, in both your personal and professional life, and know when to say “no” to volunteer activities.  Make sure you communicate this to your boss, your friends, and your family.  These are all people who care about your well-being and can help you keep your priorities in line.

Follow Your Passion

Even if you are not one of the lucky few that get to pursue a career in something they’re passionate about, you can still follow your passion.  Whether this means picking up a side hustle or just making a hobby out of it, make sure you find time to do some things you’re passionate about.  This could be painting in your free time or volunteering at an animal shelter.  Find your passion and make time for it in your life.

Self Care

Getting adequate sleep is one of the best things you can do for yourself.  If you are unable to get enough sleep, find ways you can make changes to ensure you are getting enough sleep.  Maybe you need to hire someone to help around the house, or delegate tasks to another family member.  Call upon your village for help. Creating an exercise routine and planning out healthy meals for the week will also help you sleep better, and it gives you more energy and focus throughout the day!  People who have a consistent exercise routine and eat healthy tend to me more productive in the workplace.  So make sure you’re taking care of yourself outside of work.

Annual Check Up

Priorities change overtime so make sure you are shifting your work and life balance as those changes happen.  Working late might have been something that worked well for your schedule last year, but if you’re starting a family or have new activities outside of work, that might not suit you anymore.  It’s good to switch things up anyways.  Make sure you are changing your schedule, daily tasks, and activities outside of work every year to make sure you are maintaining a healthy balance.

How Lucky Line Helps Employees

At Lucky Line we value our employees, they are our top priority.  Along with that, we want to ensure every employee is given the opportunity to be successful in the work place and at home in their personal life.  We encourage employees to stay active, and many of our employees like to walk or run together at lunch or after work.  We also offer PTO for all employees so they can take time off when they're feeling sick or just want to enjoy time away from work.  It's important for employees to spend time with family, go on vacations, or even work on projects around the house.  Stress can take a toll on some people and it's good for everyone to get away to re-energize every once in a while.

Working from Home

Today more people are working from home than ever!  If you are new to working from home, you might find that it’s not as easy as you thought … especially if your entire family is now at home all day.  Here are some tips to help you stay productive and balanced while working from home.

1. Set a schedule for yourself. Include breaks throughout the day, and make sure you’re taking those breaks away from your work station.  Go outside for a walk, play with your dog, bother your spouse, just step away for a little while a couple times throughout the day.
2. Create a productive work space. Make the most of what you have, even if you don’t have an entire room to dedicate to your work space.  Make sure your area is cleared of distractions and keep everything you need at hand.
3. Set boundaries for yourself and others in your household. Try not to go over your end time, unless it is absolutely necessary, log out of your emails and messaging at the end of the day.  If you have kids, siblings, or spouses at home, make sure they respect your work space and boundaries while you are working. Don't forget to make time for them outside of work as well.
4. Stay in communication with coworkers. Messaging and video calls are a great way to keep in touch!  Just like in the office, your communication doesn’t have to be all about business.  Catch up with each other, check in, and share ways to help each other through this time.  Keep it social and professional.
5. Try to maintain a routine for your health! Set aside time in your morning or evening to exercise, make healthy meals, and spend time with your friends or family (virtually).
6. Take time to appreciate technology and your ability to work from home. It's important to remember the positives and keep things in perspective during times like these. Being able to work from home is a big positive, even if it takes some getting used to.

These are unprecedented times, and we are all learning something new.  In fact, this is our final tip: GROW and LEARN!  If you have spare time on your hands, take that time to discover and learn something new!  Either develop a completely new skill or level up in an area you already know.  There are lots of great virtual learning platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn Learning, to help you grow even when the rest of the world has seemingly stopped.

Hang in there, don't be too hard on yourself, and work on getting better every day.