Work-Life Balance: Leaving Your Stress Behind

We've all been there: You're heading home from work and you can't stop replaying a conversation you had with your boss in your head. Or you're out at happy hour with a few co-workers and can't seem to get off of the subject of work. Or you're laying in bed at night worrying about everything you have to get done tomorrow. When you get into the habit of bringing work home, it can affect your productivity in the office, your personal life and, let's face it, your sanity. So, here are some steps you can take to leave work stresses behind when it's time to leave the office:

Make Your Work Hours More Productive
One of the key ways to separate your work life and your home life is to make each one healthier on its own. Think about it: If you increase your productivity while you're at work, you'll likely have less to worry about when it's time to go home. Consider the areas in which you could improve each work day. For instance, limit the amount of time you spend sitting in pointless meetings, browsing the Internet or chatting with co-workers in the lunch room, but give yourself a few restful breaks throughout the day. 

Leave Work On Time
Get out of the office on time every day. Staying late to finish up a project or return a few emails is a slippery slope, and it's likely those things can wait until the next morning. If you have too much on your plate to get out on time, that may be something you want to talk about with your boss.

Disconnect at Home
In an age where telecommuting is an option for many jobs and most people can access their work emails on smartphones, truly leaving work in the office can be difficult. However, unplugging from the job completely is one of the best ways to let go of some of that stress that never seems to go away. Turn off email notifications and refrain from checking your inbox until you get into work the next morning. 

Control Your Venting
A good vent session can be an effective way to relieve stress, but too much negativity can have the exact opposite effect. If you had a bad day or are dealing with a frustrating situation, take a few minutes (outside of the office) to complain to a co-worker, friend or significant other, then take a deep breath and move on to more positive topics. 

Take Care of Your Health
Eating right and exercising really do make a difference when it comes to relieving stress, depression or frustration and giving you more energy. Start taking care of your body, and you'll likely notice a change in both your productivity and your positivity.

Spend Some Time Planning
At the end of each day, think about the tasks you still have to get done, and spend 15 minutes writing out a to-do list for the next day. Taking that time to prioritize will help you clear your head and you'll worry less about work when you get home.