Getting to balance in BC
If you’re involved in BC’s dynamic tech industry—including B2B tech sales—it can be a challenge to find the work-life balance you need to feed your soul. Many people move to the province to enjoy the natural beauty and to experience BC’s cultural diversity and economic vibrancy. But why live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world if you’re working too hard?
Economically, the province has been known for its abundant natural resources, including mining, agriculture, forestry, and fishing. These are sectors that haven’t always offered a good work-life balance, but as the province’s economy has grown in the 21st century, new industries and people are driving a revolution in the equation between what people do for money, and what they do for leisure.
At Palette Skills, we believe a good work-life balance is not only positive for workers, it’s a key ingredient for business productivity. And it’s not just in BC: people all over Canada are learning to prioritize to the time they spend away from work. All the more reason to share our five proven tips and tricks to help you enjoy everything the province has to offer while building your dream career in tech!
Enter the tech sector in BC
In Vancouver alone, tech employs 92,000 people, representing a threefold increase in the sector’s employment numbers since just 2010. While most tech companies are in the Vancouver area, other regions are important too, including Vancouver Island and the Okanagan, in the province’s southern interior.
The rise of the tech sector has been great news for BC, not only because it drives economic growth overall, but also because of how the sector leads when it comes to work-life balance. From great perks like flexible hours and more personal time, to a culture of pay transparency and a commitment to workplace inclusivity, the tech sector has helped drive change throughout the province—and beyond. From cybersecurity providers and IT consulting, to cloud computing services and data analytics, tech professionals in BC are raising the bar when it comes to managing work and personal life.
1- Make remote and hybrid work for you
With many in the lower mainland now working remotely, or in a hybrid split between the office and home, it’s important to find a way to work that suits you. Working from home has many benefits, including the opportunity to focus while away from a busy office. However, it can be difficult to fight off feelings of loneliness and stay productive, especially if you live alone. Make sure you are scheduling social time for yourself that’s not work-related. Whether that means walking in Stanley Park with friends, or sharing a meal with family with all devices put away, reconnecting with loved ones is critical to helping us feel motivated and happy in what we do.
2- Set great boundaries and stick to them
Let’s be honest: It’s easy to get distracted. There’s the lure of the TV, the call of your books, or questions from kids about the next meal. Managing these things can be challenging, especially if you’re facing a difficult task at work. The opposite is also true, like when people find themselves struggling to stop working if there’s no-one around to turn off the lights at 5:00 pm.
One of the most important ways to manage distractions and competing demands from life and work is to learn how to set and communicate boundaries. Remember that boundaries go both ways: On the one hand, you need to let your colleagues know when it’s appropriate to be contacted, but on the other hand, your friends and family have to know that you’re not always available—even if they can see you at the kitchen window!
Be clear about when you are available to be contacted, and make sure it’s not after hours. If you do need to be contactable for any reason, make sure you give a phone number to be called in an emergency, otherwise turn off your laptop and your phone to give yourself a real break away from work. Setting these boundaries will allow you to relax in your leisure time, and encourage other team members to do the same.
3- Keep a routine
One way to cement the boundaries you’ve set yourself is to keep a routine. These days, if you’re working from home, it can be tempting to lie in as long as possible, especially on dark winter mornings. The thing is, having a great routine to help start your work day will also help you build a routine to end it, too.
If you’re looking to include more exercise in your day, why not fake your commute? Get up a bit earlier, and head out for a walk each morning before arriving at your desk. Or consider investing in a great umbrella and start walking to the office, no matter what! If you’re struggling to switch off after work, why not try the same thing at the end of the day? Even ten minutes will make you feel like there is a break between your work and home life, and getting out in nature has been shown to boost your mood.
4- Get comfortable to connect with BC
While it can be tempting to work from bed, it’s important to maintain good posture with the ergonomically correct equipment you need to work effectively and safely. Ensuring you have a comfortable chair and a proper desk can reduce back pain, and minimize your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Good posture doesn’t purely just have health benefits. A study by UpRight and Ernst & Young showed that employees who maintained good posture were 75% more productive at work, and 71% of these participants came across as more confident. The good news is that you don’t have to balance books on your head to maintain great posture. As we all know, Vancouver is one of the best places in the world to take up Tai chi, yoga, or many other meditative and physical routines.
5- Make sure you unplug
If you struggle to keep boundaries between your work and home life, it can be worth considering a more forceful approach. Set an alarm to warn you the end of the work day is approaching, and another for when to sign off. Of course, sometimes you’ll need to work longer than scheduled hours, but make sure that any work you are doing really needs to be completed that day, and if it happens regularly, raise it with your team.
It may seem strange to advise people working in technology solutions to unplug from technology, but as it turns out, there are important reasons why you should spend time connected to trees and people around you, rather than to devices. From mental health to better eyesight health, being mindful of the time we stay connected to technology will help us enjoy super, natural, British Columbia that much better!
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