1) Learn to let go

Many people tend to be perfectionists at work and can take on too much responsibility in their tasks. It is natural for us as human beings to seek perfection and try to perform our best – it increases our social acceptance and rewards us with recognition. But sometimes you need to let things go and try not to seek flawlessness all the time. It can be a big stress factor and no one can deliver perfection all the time.

Your own expectations towards yourself will always increase accordingly as you perform better and you will be stuck in a never-ending spiral where you will never find true satisfaction.

2) Take care of your mental health

You have probably heard it before, meditation is extremely powerful when it comes to unplugging and re-balancing yourself before or after a hard day at work. Use techniques like breathing exercises or mindfulness to get maximum effect from your meditation – and you can even use it during your workday when you have the time. Just five minutes away from the screen where you focus on nothing else but your own breathing will do you wonders!

3) Stay in shape (or try at least)

You do not have to be super fit or a marathon runner in order to live a stress-free life. The fact is, just a little bit of high-intensity workout releases dopamine and makes you happy – it is a quick fix if you feel low on energy.

Working out does not have to take a lot of time; you can start by just taking the stairs once in a while and not the elevator. Instead of your coffee number ten in the afternoon, try replacing it with a water and an apple. Small steps are important in order to succeed.

4) Ask yourself if you are the right place

Many companies today prioritize work-life balance and set up programs in order to make life more balanced for their employees. Ask yourself what your workplace does in order to create work-life balance for you. Do you have e.g. flexible hours, good vacation cover, maternity/paternity leave, security in employment or perks like a gym membership? If not, maybe your workplace does not prioritize work-life balance at all.

Check out Forbes’ list of the 25 companies with the best work-life balance

5) Take time out for yourself, your family and friends

You need to nurture all the important relationships in your life – including the one you have with yourself! Of course, you need to work overtime once in a while, but if your personal relations suffer too much you will be unhappy. By making your personal relations a priority, your productivity and effectiveness on the job will increase.

Check out this study made on how being happy at work makes you more productive.

6) Communication is the key

Be good at communicating your limitations. Tell when you are available for what – both to your family and friends, and to your boss at work. This will give you the freedom to work inside clearly set boundaries and both your family and boss will respect you for having a clear structure in your life.

If you are unsure of how to communicate with your boss, read these 8 tips on how to communicate effectively at work with your boss.

7) Stop wasting time at work!

All big companies that have programs for quality of life, have a focus on time management in relation to your professional and/or private life, and they might even have “employees’ efficiency” programs. Apart from making you more effective, it can actually add more purpose and meaning to your work-life when you focus on your cores tasks and what you are good at.

When you are productive and capable at work, you feel more balanced and happy! So try not to waste time on tasks that are not fruitful.