One of the most important parts of living and working in the modern world is figuring out how to strike a healthy work-life balance. This is essential no matter what industry you’re using to build your career, but in some — such as the auto industry — it can be more challenging than others.
What does it take to strike a healthy work-life balance in the automotive industry?
1. Set Boundaries
We’ve been collectively raised with the mindset that if we’re not hustling toward our goals, bringing in as much money as possible and working ourselves to the brink of burnout, we are somehow morally reprehensible.
That can make it difficult to set boundaries at work when even our bosses expect us to be accessible 24/7. Take the time to set clear boundaries, discuss them with your superiors, and stick to them even if it gets hard.
2. Meal Prep
Cooking dinner every night is ideal, but it can often take up a lot of time. After a long day at work, it’s often easier to just order takeaway, even if it ends up being more expensive in the long run. Take some time on the weekends to prep some or all of your meals for the week.
You don’t have to stick with the same boring thing every day either. Add a few comfort meals to your rotation, so you have something special to enjoy if you’ve been having a particularly bad day.
3. Use Your Vacation Time
Most companies offer paid vacation time, but hustle culture tends to discourage us from using it. Make sure you’re using your vacation time instead of just collecting it or letting it vanish.
Even if you’re not going anywhere, a staycation week away from work can be just the thing to let your brain recharge and help you overcome burnout.
4. Recognise Burnout Symptoms
Burnout is defined as “a physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.” Hustle culture teaches us that burnout is something to strive for, but all it’s going to do is make you unhappy, unhealthy and less effective at work.
Learn how to recognise the symptoms of burnout before they force you into an unplanned sabbatical to recover.
5. Prioritise Your Time
To-Do lists are helpful until they become overwhelming. Instead of letting your tasks throw off your work-life balance, break them down into four categories:
- Urgent & Important
- Important, Not Urgent
- Urgent, Not Important
- Neither
These four categories make it easier to determine where you should be spending your time and energy and make it easier to prioritise the most important tasks first.
6. Take Care of Your Body
An unhealthy work-life balance impacts all areas of your life, including your physical health. Take the time to prioritise your physical health and take care of your body.
That could mean daily yoga, heading to the gym, improving your food intake, or any of a hundred other little changes you can make to protect your physical health.
7. Unplug
We’re constantly connected, thanks to phones and other mobile devices, and it’s not good for our mental health. Take the time to unplug, especially from work devices, once you’ve clocked out for the day.
Provide your team with a number where they can reach you in emergencies if it is necessary, but other than that, shut off your devices and unplug.
8. Protect Your Mental Health
Mental health days are beginning to grow in popularity, but there is still such a stigma surrounding the idea of mental illness or mental health struggles that it is easy to feel like you should be ashamed of taking a mental health day. Don’t be. Take whatever steps you deem necessary to protect your mental health.
9. Do What You Love
They say that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. While it doesn’t quite work like that, it can be easier to get up and go to work every day if you truly enjoy what you’re doing. If you’re unhappy with your current career or it doesn’t offer you the ability to build a healthy work-life balance, it might be time to explore other options.
10. Accept That It Isn’t Perfect
While building a healthy work-life balance is important, it is also essential to accept that it won’t be perfect. There will be things that throw the balance off in one direction or the other. All we can do is accept this fact and learn to go with the flow.
Building Your Work-Life Balance
Working in the automotive industry can often make it challenging to strike a healthy work-life balance, but these tips should help make the journey a little bit easier.
Author Bio:
Oscar Collins is the founder and editor-in-chief at Modded. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates from the Modded team.
