5 Tips For A Better Work Life Balance

A healthy work-life balance is what many people strive for when looking for a job. In fact, ‘over two-thirds (70% of women and 65% of men) see work-life balance…as being more important than their pay and employee benefits combined’.

However, achieving a work-life is easier said than done. When you’ve got a busy job that takes up a lot of time and energy, it can be difficult to prioritise a work-life balance.

Regardless of how busy you are, it’s important for your health to make a mindful effort to ensure your work isn’t beginning to encroach on your personal life.

Our 5 tips for a better work life balance include, but are not limited to:

1. Pairing breaks with exercise 
2. Joining a flexible co-working space
3. Not allowing work to seep into your personal life
4. Being strict about scheduling time away from screens
5. Schedule time for hobbies   

1. Pairing Breaks With Exercise

One of the best tips for a better work-life balance is to pair breaks with exercise.

It can feel counterproductive to get up and take a break when you feel like you’re in the flow of working, however, it’s essential for your focus and to maintain a better work-life balance.

For instance, studies have found that 'sedentarism impacts negatively on brain health’. As desk work is highly sedentary, you need to ensure that you’re stepping away from your desk frequently to promote better brain function.

In addition to this, exercise helps you to compartmentalise different parts of your life. In turn, this takes you away from the stress and worry of work, allowing you to focus on being present.

Whether you’re going for a lunchtime walk, a gym session, or even just a stroll around, exercise can help you boost productivity when you’re working and help you to achieve a better work-life balance. 

Exercise takes you away from the stress and worry of work, allowing you to focus on being present.

2. Joining A Flexible Co-Working Space

One of the best tips for a better work-life balance is to join a flexible co-working space.

A co-working space allows you to interact and network with people and businesses from multiple industries, find out about interesting events, and place you in the heart of a bustling location.

Whether you’re stepping out to have a lunch date in the various restaurants, or are exploring an exciting new city you wouldn’t otherwise work in, joining a co-working space gives you the flexibility to prioritise a better work-life balance. 

Not only that, but working around various types of people will naturally encourage you to have more conversations and interactions that you might not otherwise have if you work from home.

This provides you with the perfect opportunity to take a step back from your work and desk and socialise, which is also good for a work-life balance.

Tramshed Tech offers co-working spaces across multiple locations in Wales, including two in Cardiff, Newport, Barry, and we are launching two new office spaces in locations in Newport and Swansea.

If you’re interested in one of our coworking spaces, get in touch about our memberships today.

3. Not Allowing Work To Seep Into Your Personal Life

If you're wondering how to create a better work life balance, a key tip is to not allow work to seep into your personal life. Regardless of whether you work at home or in an office, as this maximises the potential for you to become burnt out.

While you might not see any harm in it, taking a call here and there and checking your work emails on the weekend is how bad habits can begin.

To combat this, make a plan to turn off notifications on your work phone, or turn it off entirely when you’re not working. In turn, this will help to ensure you won’t be tempted to check it.

This way, you can keep work at work, and your home somewhere that you can return to to take the day off.

Taking work calls and checking your emails on the weekend can lead to bad habits.

4. Being Strict About Scheduling Time Away From Screens 

There’s no denying that screen-time is an ever-pressing issue if you work a desk-job that requires you to work

A study funded by Research England found that out of 500 adults interviewed, ‘half of respondents look at screens for 11 hours or more a day, with more than a quarter looking at screens for more than 14 hours a day’.

Significant screen use can have a negative impact on your eyesight, your sleep, causes headaches and migraines, not to mention the negative effects that living a sedentary lifestyle can have.

While investing in good quality blue light glasses can help to combat the problems associated with screen time, being strict about scheduling time away is essential to maintain a work-life balance.

Not only will this help to increase your quality of life and promote positive change regarding the potential health issues screen time can lead to, it also encourages you to do something different with your time.

In prioritising time away from screens, then, you'll have more time to focus on what makes you happiest and will promote a better work-life balance.

Being strict about time away from screens is essential in maintaining a work-life balance.

5. Schedule Time For Hobbies

A key part of achieving a healthy work life balance is intentionally carving out time for hobbies, and treating that time as non-negotiable.

Rather than squeezing a hobby ‘when you have time’, try blocking out a specific time slot in your calendar each week (or even daily), just like you would for a meeting or appointment.

This might be an hour in the evening to read, a class you take after work, or a weekend morning spent painting.

Why does this matter? Research shows that enjoyable leisure activities are linked with mental and physical well-being.

Making time for what brings you joy doesn’t just feel good, it supports your general health, helping to offset work stress and prevent burnout.

Building consistent time to disconnect from work and reconnect with your interests helps create a space in your life that’s purely yours - a key part of creating a healthy work-life balance. 

The Bottom Line

We hope that our 5 tips for better work life balance help you take steps towards a more fulfilling daily routine.

If you're wondering how to create a better work life balance, our co-working spaces at Tramshed Tech can give you the support you need.

Whether you're after a quiet spot to focus or a dynamic hub to connect with others, we’ve got a space to help you thrive, both professionally and personally.

Get in touch with us today to find out more.

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We are Tramshed Tech: a startup ecosystem home to 50+ companies ranging from pre-revenue start-ups to scaling businesses with 600+ registered members from the digital, creative and tech communities.

We’re currently based in Grangetown, Cardiff Central & Newport, and are soon expanding to other sites across South Wales to Barry and Swansea. 

If you’re interested in joining us at any of our locations, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

Written by Jemima Thomas for Tramshed Tech.