These days, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Technology makes us easily accessible, which makes it harder for us to switch off after a busy day at the office.

Furthermore, many of us fear the possibility of losing our jobs, which pushes us to work longer hours. However, the built-up stress from too much work can prove to be quite damaging as it can negatively affect your mental and physical health.

Everyone has a different idea of what a healthy work-life balance may be, but below you will find some top tips on how to best achieve one.

Start small

If you are already working long hours, it may be easier to start making small changes instead of big ones. Committing to cutting down too many hours or overtime may be too much of a shock not only to your own routine but to what colleagues expect from you as well.

For example, if you are currently working an 80-hour week, do not immediately cut it down to a 40-hour one. Instead, try slowly reducing it over an extended period. Perhaps from 80 hours, you can cut it down to 70 and then a week or two later, 60 hours, and so on.

Set boundaries

Setting boundaries is an important tool in maintaining a work-life balance. Start by identifying what you feel is most important: is it perhaps spending time with your family, volunteering at an animal shelter, or participating in a hobby that you love? Whatever it may be, set boundaries that allow you to enjoy such activities.

Do not let work keep you from enjoying things that you deem to be a high priority. In the long run, this will contribute to your overall happiness, which in turn, is likely to make you a better employee as it will help lessen any negative feelings that you may have towards your place of work.

Make time for exercise

Regardless of how busy you may be, it is important to feed your body what it needs. In the same way that we make sure to eat and drink water, we need to make sure to exercise.

Whether you prefer playing soccer or destressing on your yoga mat, making time for exercise will be healthy not only for your body but for your mind as well. Take about an hour a few times a week to get those endorphins going. You will feel so much better once you do.

Unplug

Being easily accessible is both a blessing and a curse. At the end of a workday, it is usually better to step away from any personal devices that double as work ones, such as your phone or computer. This way, you can ensure that you are more present and living in the moment, ultimately opening yourself up to more free time away from the screens and the buzzing of work email notifications. If you do want to play Bingo online or enjoy other virtual pursuits, make sure it’s on a different device so you cannot check emails or engage in work-related activities at the same time.

You may not even realize it, but quickly checking your emails here and there or replying to a message could just end up adding more unnecessary stress to your life.