Creating Healthy Habits with a Work/Life Balance

When you love what you do, switching off work mode at the end of the day can be hard. Sometimes you just want to reply to that message or tweak that slide one more time, so you don’t need to do it tomorrow. Are you technically working if you’re just writing down an idea that came into your head while doing the dishes, or taking notes on gameplay when testing a new title with your friends? The lines can blur when the thing you’re making at your job counts as both work and recreation. We know the feeling, and that’s why we’re here to help!

Or at least, step up! Try some exercises to unwind after a long day or get energized for a new one. Countless health apps on different platforms can coach you through whatever your body and mind need, whether it's a stretchy session with yoga or a mindful moment with qigong. Guided meditation and breathing exercises are also very effective tools to help you through times of stress or anxiety. If you don’t have access to any dedicated apps, YouTube is also filled with helpful videos.

You can also step all the way away from the screen by going to the gym or taking a walk. If you spend most of your day seated in front of a screen, giving your muscles some love is important. Find an activity that works for you and regulate the intensity to your abilities. When you wake up your body, you also wake up your mind. According to a Harvard Health study, subjects that reported walking for at least 20 minutes a day for five weeks had 43% less sick days. And sometimes all an unfixable problem needs is to be put in a drawer while you stroll around the block. With a little perspective, solutions tend to present themselves much more easily.

It’s not always easy to leave screens alone when there’s almost always one at hand. Try to set boundaries with both your colleagues and, most importantly, with yourself. If you’re done working for the day, keep it that way. Give yourself a helping hand by snoozing work-related apps after a certain time, or why not all your notifications? It’s great to be passionate about your job, but burning out isn’t going to get that game made any faster. It certainly won’t make it any better. So don’t sleep on the importance of snoozing alerts or the value of sleep itself!

Getting to work with something you love is not a given, and shouldn’t be taken for granted. But neither should your mental and physical well-being. We’re lucky enough to work in a studio that provides access to mental health apps, bicycles, yoga sessions, wellness benefits, and core work hours. But we also need a reminder that taking time for yourself after work doesn’t make you any less of a team player. Check out our World Mental Health Day and Healthy Gaming Habits articles for more tips and inspiration, and remember - take care of yourself!