Written By: Phoebe Velez
A healthy work-life balance seems like a pipe dream in an industry as demanding and as constantly evolving as public relations.
With ever-changing technology and near-24/7 accessibility, while juggling multiple clients at once, each notification that pops up on your devices seems urgent. As individuals in the Public Relations industry, we’re always on the go and naturally competitive. We are trying to get our clients the next best thing. But it’s always important to remember that not overworking yourself is key. Overworking leads to burnout, which leads to a loss of passion, and passion feeds creativity.
Here are a few things to help you step back and feel sane in all of the hustle and bustle.
Sleep is vital.
The first step towards reaching a healthy work-life balance is to make sure you get a decent amount of sleep every night. How can you put your best foot forward if your physical battery isn’t charged? Try your best to curb the late-night scrolling – staring at your phone right before going to bed is only going to make it harder to fall asleep.
Stay organized as best you can.
If you’re anything like me, you bought a planner to write in for the year, and you used it for about a week before it started collecting dust in your bag or on your desk. If physically writing due dates or a schedule in a planner isn’t for you, try a virtual calendar of some sort. But make sure that everything you have to do is written/typed out somewhere – not only will it keep you on top of your tasks… It’s also nice to be able to check things off and remind yourself of how much you’ve been able to accomplish.
Don’t take your work home with you.
When you’re not on the clock, walk away from your computer. Your tasks will be there for you tomorrow… as long as you remember to save your work (which you should already be doing multiple times before you log off). A piece of advice that one of my bosses gave me was, “it’s PR, not the ER.” That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it your all – it just means treating yourself with kindness in the process.
Set aside time to do the things that you love.
