New York City is an incredible place to live. It’s full of incredible places to see and visit, and has no shortage of museums, concert halls, and other attractions. But New Yorkers may have trouble finding time to enjoy all of this because — according to the data — they’re always working.
Experts say that New York City is America’s hardest-working city. On average, residents of no other city work as long each day as New Yorkers do. That’s impressive, but it’s not necessarily a good thing. While succeeding in your chosen line of work is important, nothing is more important than your mental health. If you don’t care for your mental health, you won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of your own success.
That’s why we’re here to share a few tips for managing your professional and personal life in New York City in a way that will be better for your health, your relationships, and your happiness. Here’s what you need to know.
Take that vacation
Americans in general and New Yorkers, in particular, have a culture of working as hard as possible for as long as possible. But studies show that nonstop work may actually be counterproductive, leading to accomplishing less and stressing more. In fact, pacing ourselves and giving ourselves proper breaks will actually make us more productive.
So don’t be one of the many people who leave unused vacation days on the table every year or don’t take advantage of unlimited vacation days. Assert yourself and take the vacations that you deserve and, ultimately, make you more successful.You’ll become more effective at workand care for your mental health at the same time.
Seek therapy
You don’t need to have a mental health concern like depression or anxiety to get a lot out of therapy. Therapy can help almost anyone, because it helps people understand the what and the how of their own thinking and arms them with strategies that will make them more satisfied, happier, more productive, and more present in the relationships that are most important to them.
Consider finding a Manhattan therapist near your office, or look for a therapist near your apartment or house. Ask about flexible hours, and work with your insurance company to get the care you need to be covered.
Reinvent your work environment
Experts agree that part of work-life balance is working in a place that is healthy. Your work environment matters, so take a good, hard look at your desk or your office and think about what you can do to make it better. Focus on wellness. Can you add things that soothe you, like plants or perhaps even running water installations? Can you switch to a healthy standing desk or ask for a better chair?
And what about working from home? If you and your employer can work out a flexible schedule or add more remote work time to your routine, you may find that you’re more relaxed and better at what you do. A shift like that allows for more sense of control over your life and also leads to fewer interruptions to your concentration. Avoiding the often brutal New York City commute can go a long way toward improving your work-life balance and your mental health.
Living and working in New York Apartments is not for the faint of heart. But there are a lot of things that you can do to make your daily life here healthier, and changing your relationship with your work is among the most important. If you can set proper boundaries, take the vacations that you deserve, and make your work life healthier, you’ll strengthen your mental health and get more out of life here in the big city.