Work life balance is important, even if career progression is your main goal right now.

It can be challenging to find a balance between work and personal life, especially during bank holiday period - people often see it as a „bonus” time to catch up on emails or come up with new ideas. As a life coach, I have seen the negative impact an unbalanced lifestyle can have on your well-being.

In this article, I will share five tips for achieving better work-life balance, during the Easter bank holidays and beyond:

Plan Ahead.
Planning ahead is key to avoiding last-minute stress and ensuring that you have enough time to relax and recharge during your time off. Take some time to plan your work schedule in advance, and communicate with your colleagues and clients to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Also, plan time for yourself to engage in activities that you enjoy.

Learn to prioritise and let go.
During the shorter „BH weeks” it is especially important to prioritise your workload and set realistic expectations with your colleagues and clients. Don't take on too much work that could interfere with your time off and be proactive in communicating your availability and establish boundaries for your personal time. You have one or more fewer days that week, it's natural you have less capacity. Prioritise what definitely needs to be done and let go of the rest. You deserve to rest and recharge.

Go offline.
It can be tempting to check your emails or complete unfinished work during bank holidays, but it is important to take this opportunity to disconnect from work and fully enjoy your time off. Turn off notifications on your phone, set up an autoresponder for your email, and avoid bringing work home with you. This will help you to be more present and mindful during your personal time and come back more focused and inspired as a result.

Engage in Self-Care.
Take some time for self-care, whatever that means for you: getting enough sleep, eating well, doing some sports, catching up with friends. You can also try mindfulness practices such as meditation or yoga to help you relax and reduce stress. Prioritizing your well-being will help you to return to work feeling refreshed and energized.

Set Goals for the Future.
Reflect on your personal and professional goals. Use this time to set some short-term and long-term goals for yourself. This will help you to feel more focused and motivated when you return to work. Don't forget to celebrate your achievements along the way.

Bank holidays are a great opportunity to take a break from work and spend time with loved ones. Or yourself if that’s what relaxes you more. What I mean is, get that well deserved break. Especially when the weather is so lovely!