What are some effective ways to balance work and life in service operations?

Setting boundaries is one of the most important ways to support your resilience, wider wellbeing, and performance. It's not just about the hours spent at work or at home but also about what I call 'mind time' - making sure when you are physically away from work, your mind is where you want it to be. Aside from setting intentions around 'hours', there are some helpful nudges you can put in place to help you switch off from responding to messages or continuing to work... just like putting trainers by the front door helps 'nudge' people to go for a run, anything from changing your clothes when you get home and leaving visual reminders of work in a cupboard help nudge you towards switching off.

One of the most helpful tools we have in reducing our stress levels is sleep. For those in hospitality especially this can be challenging but every little step in the right direction helps. The better rested we are, the better we are able to cope with challenges and move through difficult emotions. Also, depending on the role you have in the service industry and the degree of activity it involves, the tools you use to de-stress may vary. Aside from talking with a supportive other and naming your emotions, when it comes to 'activities' you can call on, for some, a calming walk in nature will appeal most (an evidence-based way to reduce stress) whereas for others taking part in a team sport might be what they need.

A fantastic evidence-based practice that I share with many of my clients (and use myself) is 'Three Good Things'. At the end of each day, write down 3 things that went well, trying to be as dynamic as you can in what you acknowledge as a positive. For instance, supporting a colleague, trying something new, leaving work on time finding time to go for a walk, or making someone laugh. The less you focus on traditional work-related outcomes such as 'achieved our targets' the more beneficial this practice will be. It helps people zoom out from focusing on those things that create stress and trains the brain to think more dynamically. This is an invaluable practice for leaders to use as it positively influences the way they appraise their team.

It's worth knowing that research around work/life balance has moved on in recent years and there is now research that shows that to a point, what's more important is the balance across different wellbeing needs. For instance, a person who finds a lot of meaning, connection, fun, flow, freedom, and sense of achievement at work, will unsurprisingly find it easier to spend longer at work than someone who has none or very little of their wellbeing needs met through their work. So, if you find yourself watching the clock and obsessing over when you can leave, it may be time to re-assess your role or the company you do that role with.