We all have a divide between our work life and our home life. While we spend our free time organizing our home life on a regular basis, we very rarely reassess our work life. This seems silly, as it accounts for the majority of our week. We have compiled a list of 10 ways to reassess and simplify your work life and make going to work feel as great as coming home at the end of the day.

1. Disconnect: For at least one hour a day, unplug from all your devices, meditate, eat dinner, whatever you wish to do. We recommend spending at least half of this hour doing something you would love to do, but “never have time to.” However you decide to shape this hour, make sure you are completely detached from work. It is important to accept this divide, otherwise we allow ourselves to become overloaded.
2. Drop the Small Stresses: According to Vilfredo Pareto’s 80/20 rule, we gain 80% of our results from 20% of our efforts. However, if we attempt to prioritize our efforts and focus on the top 20%, we can not only relieve stress, but attack tasks in a far more efficient manner.
3. Embrace Your Own Definition of “Simplified”: Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the idea of minimizing stress and simplifying your life. Everyone has their own things going on, and sometimes one person’s “simple” does not equate to another’s. Just take it in stride, and when you feel you’ve simplified enough, stop.
4. Learn the Power of “No”: We all tend to take on anything thrown our way, especially at work, because we think we must. However, we all have a limit, and the more we take on at once, the less quality work we put out. Tell your manager when you are overloaded. Any manager would prefer quality work over hearing you say “yes” to everything.
5. Reassess Your Mindset: Sit down once a week and write out your goals, strengths, and weaknesses. We are always making to-do lists, but rarely do we create “want to do” lists. It’s important to check your mindset regularly. When we stray too far away from our goals, even subconsciously, it can lead to anxiety.
6. Accept Imperfection: What is “perfect” anyway? You deserve to cut yourself some slack. No one is perfect, which means no task will ever be perfectly completed. Now, just because we are accepting imperfection doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t strive to do the best job we can possibly do. Just relieve some of the pressure on yourself. You will do a better job if you are less worried about achieving the “perfect” result.
7. Take Regular Movement Breaks: Even if it’s just walking to the printer or the kitchen, taking regular breaks aids your circulatory system, leading to not only better health, but improved focus as well.
8. Be Concise in Your Emails: Get straight to the point. You were hired to do the job you do because your manager knows you can do it. Own your achievements and own your mistakes. Quit over-apologizing. We are not only too old to make excuses, but it takes far more of our time covering up our mistakes than it does to just own it and move forward. Your manager will appreciate it, and so will your brain.
9. Drink More Water: Hydration can lead to improved focus, better communication, a clearer mind, and can, again, improve your circulation. Not to mention we need it to survive.
10. Go Outside: Trade lunch in the breakroom for lunch outside. Or, if you want, eat lunch at your desk and use your break to take a walk outdoors. Even if it is just around the block, or even around the building, spending at least 30 minutes outside is considered just as refreshing as taking a nap.