As many college students and graduates begin entering the work field, summertime can be more than just a break from school. Summer is filled with opportunity, and with opportunity comes a lot of hours in new environments, such as internships and new jobs that apply to your field of study. Even if you're working the summer job you've had for the past few years that isn't related to your major, you're still probably spending countless hours working hard to earn your paycheck and trying to make the most of what little free time you do have.
With so few hours in the day, it can be tough to separate work life from home life, especially when work seems to drain a lot of the energy that comes with summer vacation. Finding a healthy balance between work and personal life can help make it all feel a little more worthwhile.
Create a routine that helps you transition from your work life to your personal life.
Whether you get off at 5pm or 11pm, it's important to try and let go of the stressors from work and direct your focus toward what lies ahead. Sometimes, even just the drive home and blasting your favorite tunes can help, or a good cup of coffee. Find something that works for you and try to incorporate it at the end of your work day to help you unwind for the rest of the day.
Leave work at work, if you can.
Sometimes work can follow you home, and whether that means finishing up something from the office, or just talking about something that happened during the day with another coworker, it's important to try and draw the line between work and home. There will be days where work does, indeed, have to come home with you, but for the most part, try to let go of your work day. That includes discussing work or doing work. Give yourself, and your loved ones, a break, and focus on what lies ahead for the rest of your day.
If you do have to bring your work home, avoid making your living space your work space.
It may be unavoidable to leave work at work, and if that is the case, try to create a work space that is separate from your living space. This means avoiding doing work in bed or on the couch in the living room. These are places for you to unwind, so when you start working in these places, too, it can affect how you relax, and even affect your sleep.
Turn off notifications.
If you get emails from work, see if you can turn of your phone's notifications so your phone isn't constantly beeping. Set a few times throughout the day when you plan on checking your work emails instead and turn those annoying notifications off!
These are just a handful of ways to separate work life from personal life. Remember to give yourself the TLC you desperately need after a long day of work, and try your best to transition out of a work mindset and into your home and personal life.
