6 tips to help employees maximise their ‘switched off’ time
Let’s face it, we all need downtime. Though this has never been truer than in the past few months where life, in all aspects, has been somewhat extraordinary. Conversely, if you’ve noticed an ‘always on’ culture creeping into your organisation - particularly amongst your remote workers - there’s no time like the present to nip this in the bud and encourage your employees to take up some healthier habits.
It may not surprise you to hear that since the lockdown started, the majority of UK professionals are now working two hours extra per day outside of their allotted work time. That’s two hours that are vital for recuperation and overall wellbeing and can result in a far more energised and productive workforce in the long run.
Although mitigating presenteeism isn’t a quick fix, here are some ideas that you can share to help your employees down tools and maximise their free time, so that they remain happy, healthy and motivated.
Tip #1: Differentiate home and work life
Failure to separate your work and personal life may seem relatively innocuous in the beginning, but in time can potentially lead to severe negative health effects, such as burnout. Whilst slightly more challenging for remote employees, the approach to making clear-cut boundaries can include creating a designated workspace that’s tidied away at the end of the day and vetoing all work communications outside of hours. It can also help to minimise ‘work chat’ whilst at home, to effectively forge a safe space where you can shut off from thinking about work.
Tip #2: Step into the great outdoors
In the modern world, we’re inundated with technology and this has driven a culture of being constantly connected, both in the workplace and in our personal lives. A national poll revealed that the UK average smartphone screen time was 3 hours and 23 minutes in 2019, which, concerningly, doesn’t account for required screen time at work. These statistics have highlighted a growing need for people to unplug and a great way to do this is to get outside and into nature since it offers one of the most reliable boosts to your mental and physical wellbeing. This could involve going for a walk to explore places locally and further afield or making it part of a hobby such as gardening or playing an outdoor sport.
Tip #3: Resume or start a new hobby
The idea of collapsing onto the sofa with a glass of wine after a hard day’s work is a tempting one. However, there are multiple benefits to doing something a little more productive such as picking up a hobby. Immersing yourself in something that keeps your mind occupied is ideal to help create that separation between work and home life, particularly if it’s something you can schedule and look forward to right after you finish for the day. There are hundreds of hobbies to choose from and can range from arts and crafts to learning a new skill or collecting items.
Tip #4: Mentally decompress
At work, your brain is on the go all day, which makes it essential to establish a ritual of winding down when work ends to train it to enter a state of relaxation. Mindfulness is one of the most tried and tested ways to destress, centred around being in the present moment, and can include activities such as meditation and yoga. Of course, there are plenty of other options to shake off some stress that involve little to no effort, including taking a relaxing bath, spending time with your pets, practising deep breathing and listening to music.
Tip #5: Get moving
If the thought of participating in physical activity after a full-on day at work seems like a bridge too far, you may be surprised at the health benefits. Exercise not only reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones but also stimulates the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers and mood elevators. Besides, regular exercise can help you to feel more energetic in the long run, as well as improve your sleep to help you get the necessary 7-8 hours. There are multiple ways in which to incorporate exercise into your day including team sports for a good dose of social interaction or solo exercise at the gym accompanied by your favourite playlist.
Tip #6: Spend quality time with your loved ones
Dedicated time with friends and family is beneficial to not only mental wellbeing but also your relationships. Often, hectic work schedules can make this a challenge, so it’s yet another strong case for setting clear boundaries between home and work life, enabling you to show up more for those you care about. With only 24 hours in a day, it can help to plan activities in advance and put dedicated time aside where you can better connect with your loved ones and create fun, meaningful memories. The options for how you spend this time are limitless and can even be done in tandem with some of the suggestions above to truly switch off and enjoy that much-needed downtime.
For more ideas on how to help your workforce flourish and maintain positive wellbeing long into the future, visit our HR Transformation Hub.
