Maintaining a balanced life and preventing overwork and stress is essential for thriving at work. We also know that physical, social and mental activity can help build and maintain your mental health (Mental Health Council of Australia 2005). The following strategies may be helpful in managing your work commitments so that you have time to be involved with your family or in your community.
Prioritising work effectively is critical for managing your workload and will help to reduce stress when you are under pressure. Identifying urgent tasks, non urgent tasks and unnecessary activities and arranging work accordingly is a helpful strategy.
The Workplace Adjustment Tool provides information on products that can help you with time management.
Effective planning and communication in the workplace can help to maintain reasonable workloads and anticipate peak periods. Let your manager know if you have too much work and ask for their help in managing more effectively. Maintaining open team communication can facilitate delegating and sharing work during busy periods.
Remember to plan ahead for days and extended periods of annual leave to ensure you have time for your personal commitments, relaxation and other interests.
Flexible working arrangements may also assist you in balancing your work and personal life by enabling you to work in a way that suits your individual life cirumstances and commitments. It involves you and your employer deciding together on your hours of work, work location and the way work is carried out.
JobAccess has more information on
Dealing with stress
Not all stress is harmful, however too much may be damaging for your physical and mental health. JobAccess provides information on dealing with stress:
Increase awareness of mental health in your workplace:
The Mental Health Council of Australia provides a free fact sheet called ‘Be Active For Your Mental Health’ (see Related Links). Note this fact sheet is in portable document format (pdf) which may not be accessible for some users of assistive technology.
References
Mental Health Council of Australia 2005, Be Active For Your Mental Health, <http://www.mhca.org.au/AboutMentalHealth/documents/FactSheet-BeActiveForYourMentalHealth_000.pdf>.